Where to visit in May – tick off a food festival, chic city break or scenic blowout trip
From tropical island hopping to coastal Croatian festivals and lush green UK road trips, here's our pick of where to travel this month
Want some ideas on where to go on holiday in May? We’ve curated our pick of destinations for a food lover’s break as spring eases into the start of summer, with something for everyone. From UK staycations to European city breaks and long-haul adventures, there's plenty to discover this month. This is just a small selection of our UK, European and global travel guides – check out our travel hub for much more. The UK at it’s best – Shropshire A lush expanse of fertile farmland, rolling hills and historic market towns, Shropshire is both a scenic and gastronomic gem, where good food abounds thanks to the energetic efforts of local farmers, artisan makers and chefs. Ludlow is arguably the region's foodiest town – stop at Vaughan's for sandwiches, The Mousetrap for artisan cheese and The Fish House for its seafood bar. Find fine dining at Mortimer's, serving broadly modern British dishes of, say, salmon with baby beets and horseradish crème fraîche, or beef with confit onion mash, shallots and baby leeks. In May, the Ludlow Spring Festival is a celebration of craft beer and food against the dramatic backdrop of Ludlow Castle. There is plenty to explore in Shropshire beyond Ludlow too. In Shrewsbury, head upstairs at The Walrus for classy cocktails and gourmet snacks, or choose between four different patty options for a brilliant burger from The Beefy Boys. Base yourself at The Bear Inn in Hodnet, a 16th-century former coaching inn which is now a spruce country pub of real charisma. Its 12 bedrooms were individually styled by interiors ace, Octavia Dickinson, while chef Joe Andrews’ food is creating a similar wow factor. Expect dishes such as pork wellington with sage, apple, carrot and a cider jus, or ox cheek, mash, quince, roscoff onions and a corn crumb. The kitchen draws on vegetables grown in nearby Hodnet Hall’s 200-year-old walled garden. The UK bolthole – Bull, Burford Bull in Burford is a 16th-century coaching inn that combines modern, stylish comforts with historic charm, plus an exceptional art collection that includes a roll call of big hitters – Basquiat, Banksy, Dali, Hirst, Bacon and Warhol to name a few. Art lovers can request a guided tour, though you’ll also find a detailed booklet in your room encouraging you to discover the collection at your own pace. There are 18 rooms in total, including the stylish Venetian room. A super king-size bed, soaring ceilings adorned with dramatic 15th-century portraits of Roman emperors, and a light-filled lounge area with window seating makes it hard to leave. As well as rainfall shower and Wildsmith Skin toiletries, the ensuite bathroom boasts underfloor heating, a thoughtful touch to warm up after brisk walks. Dinner is served at Horn, where classic dishes are executed with confidence. Make sure to visit elegant bar Vincent’s too – perfect for unwinding after dinner or a long countryside walk. At breakfast, expect a seasonal menu focused on local, organic, farm-fresh ingredients – from pastries and smoothies to cooked classics. The window seat is a prime spot to watch the historic high street come to life beneath Banksy’s Met Ball (the iconic disco riot police helmet), a perfect snapshot of old meets new. For those keen to get out and about, reception offers a Walkabull map, detailing scenic routes with distances, timings and difficulty levels – ideal for exploring the Cotswolds countryside by foot or bike. Check rates and availability at booking.com or bullburford.com The cultural moment – Ballymaloe Food Festival, East Cork The Ballymaloe Festival of Food returns for its third year from 15-17th May, making it the perfect time to visit this foodie corner of Ireland. The jam-packed three days celebrate Irish food, seasonal cooking and the producers behind it. There's a busy line up of workshops (from cooking with seaweed to chocolate truffle making), cookery demos, expert masterclasses and impressive pop-up dining events hosted at Ballymaloe House. Drinks enthusiasts are well covered too, with events including a martini masterclass or cheese and wine pairing session. Expect familiar faces from the foodie world on the line up, including talks or signings from Helen Goh, Thomasina Miers and Felicity Cloake. Beyond the dining and workshops, there's live music and local producer showcases – you'll want to have room in your suitcase to take plenty of edible souvenirs home... Book tickets here. The seasonal city break – Rome May is one of the best times to visit Rome: warm sunshine and long evenings without the intense heat and crowds of the peak of summer. Spring light brings the monuments to life, from the piazzas around the Pantheon to the fountains near the Trevi Fountain, while café culture spills out onto the streets. Start the day like a Roman at Caffè Sant’Eustachio, a historic espresso bar serving coffee near the Pantheon since 1938. For lunch, the stylish deli-restaurant Salumeria Roscioli showcases Italy’s incredible produce, from Cantabrian anchovies and Pugliese mozzarella to classic pasta like cacio e pepe, all alongside an enormous wine list. Traditional trattorias remain the soul of the city. At tiny Da Danilo, expect comforting Roman dishes and a cosy, football-memorabilia-covered dining room, while La Matriciana Dal 1870 serves one of the city’s best spaghetti amatriciana near the opera house. In Trastevere, queues form at Da Enzo al 29 for outstanding carbonara and tiramisu. As evening falls, Rome truly comes alive. Enjoy late dinners at classic spots like Al Moro (near the Trevi Fountain, if you want to pop by at night), then finish with inventive cocktails at Drink Kong. The culinary destination to explore – Puerto Rico Visiting Puerto Rico in May means you'll be just outside high season (from July-April), but still get the great weather. Perfect for exploring the island's beaches, mountains and chasing waterfalls in El Yunque rainforest. Head to Rincón on the west coast for surfing, brilliant beaches and incredible sunsets. Naturally for an island, you'll be spoilt for choice with seafood, with mahi-mahi, snook, yellow-fin tuna and dorado all appearing on menus. Look out for Caribbean lobster too (sometimes called spiny lobster), with its firmer meat than Atlantic lobster and commonly served doused in chilli crisp. Puerto Rico grows over 1,000 exotic fruits – surely a challenge to see how many you can try on your trip? Guava is a popular highlight, appearing in everything from cocktails to cheese toasties. Try the grilled ham and cheese croissant with guava jam whilst you pick up a coffee at micro-brewery Cuatro Sombras. For those with a sweet tooth, Choco Bar Cortés is a must-visit. It's a cafe devoted to all things chocolate and has an impactful social history. In 1902, the US banned the teaching of Spanish in schools, so comic strips in the wrappers of the chocolate bars helped teach young Puerto Rican’s how to read their language. The blow-out trip – Vancouver, Canada This western Canadian city has a real pull for those that love the outdoors, so the late spring weather makes May an ideal month to visit. Hike the North Shore mountains as ski slopes give way to scenic walking trails, cycle along the Vancouver seawall or take a day trip to Abbotsford to walk through a stunning tapestry of tulips. Get the ferry over to Granville Island Public Market, an indoor market with local produce and an overwhelming choice of food stalls to stop off at. Take a seat and order food from A La Mode for pie, Chau Veggie Express for Vietnamese, Kaisereck Deli for perogies or Sen Pad Thai for Thai. Vancouver is well known for its variety of cuisines, especially Asian options. While you’re in the city, head to the suburb of Richmond for some of the best Chinese food outside of China. Hop between stalls at Richmond Night Market, open on weekends from April throughout summer, for karaage (Japanese fried chicken), pillowy bao buns, sushi tacos and more. Beer lovers will enjoy the independent craft beer scene – plan a mini beer crawl through Mount Pleasant to tick off Mount Brassneck Brewery, 33 Acres and Main Street Brewing. Non-drinkers are also well-catered for, with surging popularity of non-alcoholic options leading to interesting creations across the city. Check out The Drive Canteen on Commercial Drive for an abundance of non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. Check out our full guide to Vancouver cuisine from local chef Angus An for more insider top tips to the city. The boutique retreat – Argos in Cappadocia, Turkey The mesmerising landscapes of Cappadocia in Turkey continue to draw visitors from across the world. Argos in Cappadocia is a luxury cave hotel in the hilltop village of Uçhisar, with extraordinary views over the region's famous dramatic volcanic moonscapes and ‘fairy chimney’ landforms. Most of the hotel’s 71 rooms are architectural hybrids, built into caves hewn into the rocky hillside and finishing them in a contemporary style. Suites may take the form of single-storey warrens, with stone sitting areas concealing grotto bedrooms; others are duplex, with rooftop balconies spilling out onto the hillside. The most romantic options have their own jacuzzi, or even a swimming pool. The hotel's cave spa offers a unique subterranean escapism, and dining privately in the ancient converted monastery, though an indulgent add-on to your stay, is a one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience. Hotel restaurant Nahita is the first farm-to-table restaurant in the region, where all ingredients are sourced within a strict 60km radius. The menu focuses on traditional local cuisine: think succulent lamb cooked in a tandoor for twelve hours, aubergine “testi” (dough-sealed clay cooking pots) kebabs, and pillowy, smoke-scented breads. Check rates and availability at booking.com or argosincappadocia.com The alternative choice – Black Forest, Germany While many travellers gravitate towards Germany’s famous cities, the quietly seductive Black Forest offers a more unexpected route into the country’s food culture. Best known internationally for its namesake gâteau, this lush region in the southwest is often overlooked – yet it’s precisely that under-the-radar status that makes it such a rewarding alternative. Base yourself in Freiburg, the unofficial capital of the region, and explore a landscape of pine-clad hills, vineyard paths and meadows in bloom, with traditional inns and farm restaurants waiting at the end of many trails. Menus celebrate regional comfort dishes such as Käsespätzle and delicate Swabian ravioli – head to Dorfstuben for these refined country dishes and don't forget to order the apple fritters for dessert. The Black Forest is a haven for winer lovers too. For a walking holiday, plan a day for the Oberkirch wine hike. You'll cover a 7km hiking trail where you'll be surrounded by magnificent vineyard landscapes, with multiple stops for food and wine. The highlight is ascending to the summit of the Schauenburg Castle ruins for the the most mesmerising views of Oberkirch – it'll make you truly fall in love with the charming Black Forest region. See our full guide to the Black Forest here. The scenic pick – Ischia, Italy Swap the crowds of Capri for fewer tourists and a relaxing island experience on Ischia. Just a 90 minutes’ ferry ride from Naples, Ischia is dotted with 300 or so thermal springs; visit the waters bubbling up from the sea bed at Sorgento, have a therapeutic thermal mud treatment at one of the many spas or visit the stunning Negombo Thermal Park, with its impressive collection of rare plants. Eat rabbit stew at rustic agriturismos and dishes cooked in the baking hot sand at Ristaurante Emanuela on Maronti Beach, tour the island’s vineyards with their ash-rich soils or sip limoncello or local walnut liqueurs as the sun sets. For one of the island’s most memorable dining experiences, book a table at the Albergo Il Monastero, within the walls of the 15th century Castello Aragonese. The castle is one of the island’s most striking landmarks, set on its own dramatic headland at Ischia Ponte (pictured below). The restaurant serves Campanian classics with a twist like grilled octopus with chickpeas and rosemary purée, as well as the castle’s own wine. You can also stay over at the Albergo, in simple rooms (once monks’ cells) with fabulous views of the Tyrrhenian Sea; doubles cost from £130 per night, b&b (check availability at booking.com). Discover the rest of our lesser-known Italian islands for unspoilt getaways. The off-season gem – Zurich, Switzerland Switzerland is not just a winter city to visit when snowy and filled with Christmas markets, or as a stop off for ski lovers on their way to the slopes. In May, watch Zurich burst into life in spring with sunlit terraces and vibrant alfresco dining. Frau Gerolds Garten is the hotspot for open-air bars and casual eats amongst artfully decorated shipping containers. Smart bistro Neumarkt provides the perfect lunchtime pitstop after a morning’s mooching through the old town’s cobbled streets. Secure a spot in the sun-drenched garden to enjoy seasonal dishes such as confit artichokes topped with truffle shavings. With uninterrupted lakefront vistas, Fischerstube serves fresh fish dishes from the lake itself. Swish restaurant Lux boasts the city’s largest panoramic terrace as well as innovative, climate-neutral vegan foie gras with rhubarb chutney. Alternatively, go DIY and pack a lakeside picnic of upmarket Swiss delicacies from Berg und Tal grocery shop, including Swiss Alpine cheeses and artisan bean-to-bar La Flor chocolate. Weekly seasonal markets are in full bloom at Bürkliplatz and Viaduct Market Hall offers six days a week of enticing produce beneath the railway arches. Choose a scoop of ice cream from local favourite Gelateria di Berna and get lost in one of the city’s 70 green oases. Historic hotel Marktgasse offers boutique charm and comfort in the heart of the old town. There’s an on-site two Michelin-starred Igniv restaurant for fine dining as well as a more informal breakfast selection. Check rates and availability at booking.com. More travel inspiration 8 US cities that offer spectacular value for money 10 unique walking holidays for foodies 8 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known destinations 25 small towns across the UK that every foodie should visit Best UK boutique hotels for food lovers
Best collagen supplements UK, tried and tested by experts 2026
Our health experts have tried and tested marine, vegan and bovine collagen in the form of gels and powders to help you find the best option
Collagen is a natural protein found in the body and plays a vital role in the health of skin, bones, muscles and connective tissue. Making sure your diet provides enough protein is key to supplying the amino acids your body needs to produce collagen. Adding a collagen supplement may also support skin health and elasticity, and could offer benefits for joint comfort and maintaining bone strength. As we get older, our bodies naturally produce less collagen, which is why some people turn to supplements. With so many options on the market, it can be tricky to know which type is best, and whether they’re worth the cost. Sponsored by iHerb Upgrade your supplement routine with 15% off collagen at iHerb Collagen remains a popular supplement for those looking to support healthy joints and glowing skin as part of their daily routine. iHerb makes it easy to explore options, with a wide selection of collagen supplements from trusted wellness brands. Whether it’s powders to stir into drinks, convenient capsules or easy to carry sachets, there’s something to suit all routines and preferences. Among the bestsellers are California Gold Nutrition Collagen, Sport Research Collagen, California Gold Collagen Sachets and Vital Proteins Collagen, which are all available at iHerb. For a limited time, shoppers can save on collagen supplements across the range. Use code UKCOL15 at checkout to enjoy 15% off collagen supplements at iHerb today. Terms & Conditions: Offer valid in the UK only. Promotion runs until 31 March 2026 at 10am. Discount applies to collagen supplements only and must be applied using code UKCOL15 at checkout. Cannot be combined with other promotions unless stated. We’ve tested collagen supplements for flavour and ingredient quality, so you can make an informed choice. Keep reading for our favourite picks of the best marine, vegan and bovine collagen supplements. Looking for more healthy inspiration? Read our guides to the 10 foods to fight seasonal allergies and what is the dopamine diet. Jump to: Best marine collagen Best vegan collagen Best bovine collagen What is collagen? Types of collagen: marine, vegan and bovine What is the best form of collagen to take? How do collagen supplements work? Best collagen supplements UK at a glance Best marine collagen Best overall marine collagen: Absolute Collagen Marine Liquid Collagen Supplement, £33.99 Best marine collagen for absorption: Elle Sera Liposomal Tripeptide Collagen, £69.95 Best flavoured marine collagen: Hunter & Gather Rise & Glow Collagen Daily Beauty Tonic, £40 Best marine collagen for adding to smoothies: JS Health Vitality X + collagen, £39.99 Best marine collagen for skin: Rejuvenated collagen shots, £52.50 Best marine collagen sachets: Revive Collagen hydrolysed marine collagen drink, £27.74 Best marine collagen powder: Sixways raspberry flavour marine collagen, £42.99 Best vegan collagen Best vegan collagen: Shreddy Superskin, £38 Best flavour vegan collagen: Feel strawberry peach vegan collagen powder, £56.43 Best bovine collagen Best bovine collagen: Ancient + Brave cacao and collagen, £28 Best blended collagen Best blended collagen: NaturesPlus Collagen Peptides, £24.49 Best collagen supplements to buy in UK 2026 Best marine collagen Absolute Collagen Marine Liquid Collagen Supplement Available from Absolute Collagen (£33.99), Amazon (£33.99) Star rating: 5/5 Despite being a high‑strength marine collagen drink, our testers found that Absolute Collagen’s flavoured sachets were mild and easy to drink rather than being fishy in flavour. We tried the mango and pineapple flavour, which mixed well into water and smoothies. Each sachet delivers 8,000 mg of hydrolysed marine collagen peptides plus 60 mg of vitamin C – a combination designed to support normal collagen formation for skin, hair and nails. Our testers reported that daily use felt like a simple addition to a routine, and noticed a difference to skin hydration and condition after several weeks, along with shinier nails, surprisingly. Available from: Absolute Collagen (£33.99) Amazon (£33.99) Elle Sera Liposomal Tripeptide Collagen Available from Elle Sera (£69.95) Best marine collagen for absorption Star rating: 5/5 Elle Sera’s Liposomal Tripeptide Collagen comes in sealed liquid ampoules that are easy to sip daily, and one of our testers said the taste was sweet and pleasant (similar to a mild berry or candy flavour) compared with other collagen supplements. The formula uses liposomal delivery with tripeptide collagen, which means the collagen is broken into small, easily absorbed pieces and enclosed in liposomes to improve uptake. It also has added vitamins A, C and E, biotin, zinc and lycopene to help with absorption and support skin elasticity, hydration and resilience. Our testers enjoyed the smooth texture and convenient, no‑mess ampoules, and after a few weeks' use, felt their skin was noticeably more radiant. Available from: Elle Sera (£69.95) Hunter & Gather Rise & Glow Collagen Daily Beauty Tonic Available from Ocado (£38), Healf (£40) Best flavoured collagen Star rating: 5/5 Despite having a marine collagen base, this supplement from Hunter & Gather didn't have a hint of fishiness, and was our favourite on test for its fruity flavour. The flavour is so good, it can be taken with water rather than needing to be disguised in fruit juice or a smoothie. The overall taste is sweet yet tangy, with a slight floral undertone thanks to the hibiscus. As well as the 5,000mg of collagen per serving, it also contains vitamin C from the blend of fruit powders, which includes açai, blueberry, blackcurrant and raspberry. This would be a good option if you want to add collagen to your diet but you're worried about the taste. Available from: Healf (£40) Ocado (£38) JS Health Vitality X + collagen Available from JS Health Vitamins (£39.99) Best marine collagen for adding to smoothies Star rating: 5/5 From JS Health Vitality, this collagen supplement makes a light, fruity drink. Even though it's made from wild deep sea cod skin – along with other ingredients – there wasn't any trace of marine flavour when we tested it. Other ingredients include turmeric and blueberry powder, which contributes to the fruitiness. We also noted tropical fruits, which had a nice acidity that balanced the sweetness. We found it tasted best when added to a morning fruit smoothie, which is an easy way to start the day with a collagen hit. Available from: JS Health Vitamins (£39.99) Rejuvenated collagen shots Available from Rejuvenated (£55) Best marine collagen for skin Star rating: 4/5 As there is a known connection between a healthy gut and good skin, Rejuvenated created a powder which combines hydrolysed marine collagen, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid with a probiotic. Don't worry, there's no taste of fish, in fact it's very subtle in flavour. Available from: Rejuvenated (£55) Revive Collagen hydrolysed marine collagen drink Available from Revive Collagen (£29.27), Sephora (£36.99 for 14) Best marine collagen sachets Star rating: 4/5 Unlike many options on this list, which come in the form of powders, this collagen supplement is a gel, with a similar consistency to an undiluted cordial. In fact, we think adding it to water is the best way to consume it, as the lemony citrus flavour is pleasant. But, you could take it with juice, if you prefer. As well as marine collagen, these gels contain retinol and hydrolysed keratin, which are known to have skin-plumping benefits. You get two weeks' worth in a regular box (14 sachets), but if you sign up to a Revive subscription, you'll get two boxes every 28 days, with free delivery. Available from: Revive Collagen (£29.27) Sephora (£36.99 for 14) Sixways raspberry flavour marine collagen Available from Ocado (£42), Holland & Barrett (£42.99) Best marine collagen powder Star rating: 4/5 This collagen supplement comes in powder form, so it's easy to mix into whatever you fancy. We were hit with sour raspberry, which reminded us of undiluted fruit cordial. Luckily, no fishiness made it through. We like that Sixways gets its marine collagen from sustainably sourced fish in the Atlantic. As well as collagen, this supplement contains vitamins C and A. With 28 servings per pack, it should last a month, but you can purchase a monthly subscription to save money. Available from: Ocado (£42) Holland & Barrett (£42.99) Best vegan collagen Shreddy Superskin Available from Shreddy (£38) Best vegan collagen Star rating: 5/5 Formulated from a plant-based collagen alternative, this powder performed brilliantly on test. The peach iced tea flavour was sweet and refreshing and would be easy to drink on a daily basis. Like many vegan collagen powders this supplement includes additional nutrients including the daily dose of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. Available from: Shreddy (£38) Feel strawberry peach vegan collagen powder Available from Feel (£56.43) Best flavour vegan collagen Star rating: 4/5 This collagen has a pleasantly sweet, fruity flavour similar to strawberry sherbet, with a tangy acidity. It was one of the best we tried – most testers said they would happily take it every day. It also comes in a pineapple and grapefruit flavour, although we didn't try these. As this is a vegan collagen supplement, it's designed to mimic the amino acids produced by collagen in our bodies. It's combined with other ingredients that help to boost collagen production, like the ancient herb, gotu kola. Available from: Feel (£56.43) Best bovine collagen Ancient + Brave cacao and collagen Available from Healf (£28), Ancient + Brave (£28) Best bovine collagen Star rating: 5/5 Bovine collagen is a close match to human collagen, which makes it easy to absorb, but it can often come with an unpleasant flavour. That's not the case with this option from Ancient + Brave. The collagen is combined with raw Peruvian cacao, which contains antioxidants and ashwaganda. It's chocolatey, with deep, earthy notes and elements of spice thanks to the cinnamon, baobab and carob. Available from: Ancient + Brave (£28) Healf (£28) Best blended collagen NaturesPlus Collagen Peptides Available from Amazon (£24.95), Healf (£24.49) Best blended collagen Star rating: 4.5/5 If you're looking for an unflavoured collaged to add to cold or warm drinks this could be a great option as we found it has a crisp, clean flavour without any unpleasant aftertaste. Rather than using a single source of collagen like most supplements in this list, this one uses a combination of sources: grass-fed beef, wild-caught cod, free-range chicken and eggshell membrane. It's worth noting that we found that even after mixing with water the powder was a little lumpy, so this may benefit from being blended in a high powdered blender, or added to smoothies. Available from: Amazon (£24.95) Healf (£24.49) What is collagen? Collagen is a protein that is found in lots of different areas of the body, including connective tissues, organs, blood and bones. It is involved in essential processes, including protecting the nervous system, helping wounds heal and making blood clot. As we age, less collagen is produced in the body, which can lead to less elasticity in connective tissues and skin. Types of collagen: marine, vegan and bovine Collagen supplements generally come from three sources: marine, vegan and bovine. Marine and bovine are the easiest for us to absorb as they are the closest match to human collagen; however, vegan options have been developed to work as well. These don't contain standard collagen, but will more likely contain other products, like vitamin C, to help the body produce more collagen. Marine collagen, as the name might suggest, is made from fish, while bovine collagen is made from cows. The later is the closest to our own collagen, while marine collagen contains smaller molecules, which may help us absorb them more quickly. What is the best form of collagen to take? Collagen supplements come in several different forms. You can find collagen available as powder, gel, capsules and even creamer to add to coffee. There's no real best form to take, except what might work best for you. How do collagen supplements work? Collagen supplements mostly contain collagen from external sources. They might be described as 'collagen peptides' or 'hydrolysed collagen', which essentially means the same thing – the collagen has been broken down into smaller peptide particles that are easier for the human body to absorb. Our friends at Good Food have a brilliant guide on do collagen supplements work, which has lots more information. 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10 European gourmet escapes to catch spring produce at its peak
From wild garlic in the UK to sour cherries in Hungary, seasonal produce is bountiful across Europe in spring
From the first vivid green shoots of wild garlic in the British countryside, to fleeting lagoon delicacies in Venice and the tart cherries starting to ripen across central Europe, spring brings a wave of ingredients for which chefs wait all year. These 10 gourmet escapes are centred around the continent’s most exciting spring produce and the places where it tastes best. For more spring travel inspiration, check out our guides of where to go in April and the best spring holiday destinations around the world. Bristol, UK: wild garlic From March to May, damp and shady woodlands, country lanes and city streets all over the UK are flushed with verdant wild garlic, also known as ramsons. Its long, glossy leaves and fragrant flowers have a fresh garlicky flavour that sings of British springtime. Check out our 10 foraging do's and don'ts to safely secure your haul. Thanks to its many riverbanks and streams, Bristol and the West Country are especially abundant in the woodland herb – particularly spots like Leigh Woods, Ashton Court and the Avon Gorge, where foragers gather annually. The menu at Root – a contemporary, plant-led sharing plates restaurant on Bristol’s historic Wapping Wharf – showcases wild garlic season each year. It's foraged in the local area daily and served on the menu later the same day, cooked in dishes like cannellini beans, wild garlic, smoked butter and pangrattato. Marmo restaurant and wine shop in central Bristol is similarly founded on a seasonal and locally sourced ethos – there, the aim is to try to get wild garlic into as many dishes as possible over the foraging season. Try the hand-rolled butter and wild garlic strozzapreti, or fried wild garlic frittelle. See our expert local's guide to the best restaurants in Bristol for more. Valls, Spain: calçots The annual calçotada festivities in Spain originate in the town of Valls, in the province of Tarragona – just over an hour by train from Barcelona – and celebrate the harvest of calçots, the green onions native to Catalonia that are prized for their tenderness, length and pungent, sweet flavour. During the festival, calçots are charred over open fire, peeled and dipped into smoky romesco or salvitxada. In Valls, local restaurants are experts in flame-grilling the calçots over vine branches to serve with rustic bread and cava or red wine from traditional ‘porró’ pitchers. The family-run Casa Felix Valls is a calçotada that has been serving the blackened onions with sausages, lamb, seasonal artichokes and its signature sautéed beans for more than 50 years. Cal Ganxo, with its rustic stone walls and old wooden beams, is another local institution with some of the best homemade romesco in the region. Munich, Germany: Bavarian white asparagus The arrival of white asparagus (spargel) in Munich from mid-April is an annual culinary event. Bavarian restaurants in the city mark the occasion by swapping their standard menus to dedicated spargelkarte – or 'white asparagus menu' – sourcing their spears from the nearby Schrobenhausen region, the heart of white asparagus production. The asparagus is prized for being extra-tender and nutty – it's grown underground, so it never develops the usual green colouring, but stays glossy and white. Munich treats the spargelzeit season with almost religious devotion, and it's centered around Viktualienmarkt – Munich’s central open-air market – where booths and stalls are piled high with the spears and serve them with melted butter or hollandaise sauce. Görreshof Wirtshaus in the Maxvorstadt district is a traditional inn famous for its spargelkarte and beer garden – it serves dishes like spargelcremesuppe – a creamy white asparagus soup made with fresh chives, as well as wiener schnitzel. Family-run regional restaurant Der Pschorr is equally renowned for its asparagus menu, which includes dishes like white asparagus with smoked ham. Venice, Italy: Venetian lagoon soft-shell crabs One of the most prized culinary delicacies in Italy are soft-shell crabs – known as moeche or moleche – from the Venetian lagoon, available during a short season in spring and autumn. They're eaten in the very short window after their old shells are shed, when the new shells remain soft for just a couple of hours before hardening. The ancient art of finding them has been perfected by Venetian fishermen, called moanti, who catch them in wooden crates in Venice’s lagoons, checking in every hour to see if the old shell has been shed before quickly selling them at Rialto Market. The crabs must be eaten within 48 hours, which ensures an intense, briny yet sweet flavour and extra-tender texture – they have an almost buttery mouth-feel. Tucked away in an alleyway near Rialto, Trattoria Antiche Carampane is famous for its light and crisp fried lagoon crabs and lagoon shrimp served on creamy polenta. The tiny Osteria alle Testiere is another well-loved Venice spot that's famed for its ingredient-led approach – it sources its seasonal lagoon crabs fresh from Rialto Market each morning. Budapest, Hungary: sour cherries Red sour cherries – or meggy – are deeply rooted in Hungarian culinary culture, with the heart of production focussed in the northeastern village of Nagykörű, known as 'Hungary’s cherry orchard'. The firm, plump cherries have an intense sharp-sweet flavour and are rich in antioxidants. Budapest is a great place to experience the season – the tart fruits pop up in everything from flaky pastries to cold soups. Head to the Central Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok) during the peak of the short season to see mountains of Balaton or Érdi varieties piled high at stalls and sold by the kilo. Gettó Gulyás, in Budapest’s Jewish quarter, is renowned for its warming seasonal dishes, like mákos guba (poppy seed bread pudding) with a sour cherry twist, and meggy pálinka (sour cherry pit brandy). Another beloved family-run spot is Rosenstein Vendéglő, which sources cherries from its farm in Újfehértó, then uses them to make its famous hideg meggyleves (chilled sour cherry soup) flavoured with cloves, cinnamon, citrus and cream. Lesvos, Greece: papalines Late spring marks the beginning of papalines season – Greece’s famous, meaty, sweet white sardines from the Gulf of Kalloni, which are best enjoyed on the island of Lesvos. The Gulf of Kalloni is a 'natural fish farm', where the shallow waters create the perfect ecosystem for these smaller, fattier sardines to flourish. Traditionally, they're cured in salt for 24 hours to create sardeles pastes, which are eaten with good Greek olive oil and Lesvian ouzo – a highlight of annual sardine festivals in the harbour town of Skala Kallonis. MEZEN is a traditional spot in Skala Kallonis’s central square that serves the freshest catches of the day from the island, cooked in dishes like coal-charred sardines with horta wild greens, fresh herbs and lemon. Mistral in Molyvos Harbor uses the island's fresh produce to make its traditional saganaki, moussaka and souvlaki, plus ‘married sardines’ – two sardine fillets 'married' together with a garlic, parsley and feta filling. Helsinki, Finland: false morels One of Helsinki’s most prized (and feared!) delicacies is the false morel mushroom, or korvasieni (literally 'ear mushroom'), as it’s known locally. They emerge when the snow melts in May, marking the start of foraging season in Finland. However, the raw mushrooms are lethally toxic, and must be specially prepared by experts who use plenty of discarded boiled water to neutralise the toxin and make them edible. When cooked correctly, they have a deeply umami, nutty, buttery, earthy flavour and firm texture. Try them at Kuu – a neighbourhood restaurant known for its refined Finnish comfort food that serves false morels with fried perch, and cooked in creamy forest mushroom soups. There's also Kosmos, in the heart of Helsinki, which has a distinctly Finnish menu, particularly its sylvester sandwich au gratin – toasted rye bread with roe and creamy false morel sauce. Nice, France: violet de Provence artichokes All across Provence, purple-tinted violet de Provence artichokes abundantly fill market stalls during spring, particularly in Nice. These small, tender, conical artichokes are loved for their tender texture, but they also have only a small fuzzy ‘choke’ in the centre, making them easier to eat. In fact, they're one of few artichoke varieties that can be eaten raw – often sliced into a thin carpaccio with olive oil, lemon and parmesan shavings. At Nice’s central Cours Saleya market, you can buy them in bunches, called poivrade – stallholders will often offer tasters of the crisp, peppery leaves, and sell battered and fried beignets d’artichauts (artichoke fritters). La Table Alziari in Old Nice cooks petit violets into dishes like traditional artichauts à la barigoule – a classic Provençal stew in which the artichokes are braised with carrots, garlic, white wine and bacon. Porto, Portugal: Galician kale Galician kale – or couve galega – is a cultural touchstone in northern Portugal and the area around Porto. Unlike tougher kales, couve galega is tender, meaning it cooks quickly and retains its vibrant green colour and delicate, earthy flavour. It forms the basis of caldo verde, a popular soup made with puréed potatoes, onions and garlic. During the Festa de São João (a street festival celebrating the nativity of St John the Baptist), caldo verde is served in clay bowls alongside grilled sardines and broa (cornbread) to fuel the festivities. O Astro Cervejaria Petisqueira, across from Porto’s Campanhã station, is one of the best places to try the traditional soup, where it's served with spicy bifanas (pork sandwiches). Or, head to historic riverside restaurant Adega São Nicolau – its caldo verde is made with hand-shredded kale and served as a side to grilled octopus or salt cod. Check out our city guide to the best restaurants in Porto for more recommendations. Galway, Ireland: native flat oysters The harvest of native Irish flat oysters (ostrea edulis) in Galway is a highlight of spring, as it's when the oysters are at their plumpest before they start spawning in the summer. Galway Bay – where the salty Atlantic meets freshwater River Corrib – is one of the few places in the world with self-sustaining beds of these native flat oysters, which have creamy texture, complex flavour and sweet, nutty undertones that are much more pronounced in spring. Moran's Oyster Cottage dates back more than 250 years, and is a seventh-generation family-run spot situated in a 300-year-old thatched cottage – this is where to go for the quintessential Galway oyster experience. Its signature 'Galway flats' are served with no adornment to showcase their briny, sweet taste. Wash them down with a Guinness while overlooking the Dunkellin River. Galway’s first oyster bar, McSwiggan's, is still loved by locals and visitors alike, and is a bustling establishment where oysters are freshly shucked and served raw, or flame-grilled and enjoyed Rockefeller-style with parmesan and herbs or Kilpatrick-style with bacon and Worcestershire sauce. For more Irish inspo, check out our guide to the best Irish holiday destinations, from Cork and Dublin to Portrush or Dingle. More like this Best European mountain escapes 10 unique walking holidays for food lovers Best health and wellness retreats for foodies 8 US cities to visit that offer spectacular value for money Best European city breaks Best foodie city breaks to visit by train Best English vineyard breaks
Best restaurants in Porto, Portugal: where locals eat and drink
Discover our pick of where to eat and drink in Portugal's elegant second city, including local hotspots, chef favourites and new openings, plus a spotlight on a foodie neighbourhood
Looking for restaurants in Porto? Want to know where to eat in Portugal's northern city? Our local and in house experts share their insider tips for the best restaurants in Porto, along with where to find the best pastéis de nata (custard tarts), sandes de pernil (pork sarnies) and port houses. For more Portuguese travel inspiration, discover 10 things we love about the food from the Algarve and more of the best Portugal food trips. Next, check out our city guides to Málaga, Prague and Ljubljana. Our pick of Porto's best restaurants, cafés and bars Manteigaria – for custard tarts Fans of Lisbon’s cult custard tart shop, Manteigaria, will be pleased to know that Porto has its own branch now. Watch chefs work with spirals of butter and pastry (the kitchen walls are made entirely from glass), transforming them into crisp wheels that are then filled with cinnamon-spiked custard. Stand at the counter and down an espresso, or head to the adjoining minimalistic canteen to savour your tart with a glass of port. Pedro dos Frangos – for piri-piri chicken This long-running Porto favourite has been specialising in charcoal-roasted chicken since the 1960s. Whole birds are slowly spit-roasted over glowing coals until the skin turns burnished and crisp, then chopped into juicy portions and brushed with a punchy piri-piri sauce that delivers a gentle chilli kick. Order a whole chicken to share and it arrives piled onto a large platter with a generous heap of skinny fries and a simple lettuce and tomato salad to balance the richness. The dining room feels pleasingly old-school – wood panelling, tiled floors and tables packed with locals and families. Best of all, the value is exceptional: when we went, a whole chicken with fries and salad plus a bottle of vinho verde came in at around €27. pedrodosfrangos.pt A Casa Guedes – for sandes de pernil (Portuguese pork sandwiches) Queue alongside locals for this traditional tavern, if only for the crunchy bread rolls stuffed with juicy roast pork leg and a one euro glass of Portuguese wine (try the ever-so-slightly-sparkling vinho verde). Perch on one of four stools at the tiled counter and watch your roll come to life: the bread is cut and filled with a thick slice of cheese, then passed down to the tavern owner, who carves the pork and heaps slices of the stuff directly into your sandwich, with plenty of roasting juices. There’s a patio around the side for sun worshippers. facebook.com/a-casa-guedes O Forno do Leitão do Zé – for suckling pig If you want to try Portugal’s famous leitão (suckling pig), this understated spot across the street from the famous Mercado do Bolhão delivers it in gloriously crisp fashion. The pig is slow-roasted until the skin turns glassy and crackling, then chopped into generous chunks of tender meat and served simply with a pile of crunchy crisps. It’s rich, salty and incredibly moreish. Enjoy it with an ice-cold beer. The restaurant itself has a casual, bustling feel, with bright tiles and simple tables. The vibe is more fast food joint than restaurant, with a steady hum of locals dropping in for a plate and a drink. Portions are generous and the quality is excellent: when we visited a plate of suckling pig with crisps and two beers came to roughly €37. For a taste of a classic Portuguese speciality without the formality, it’s a great shout. leitaodoze.pt Flor dos Congregados – for traditional tavern vibes At Flor dos Congregados, every dish is cooked with passion. Try the terylene sandwich, a double-layered roast pork and ham affair that takes a full day to cook; or a slice of sericaia cake (a kind of egg pudding) and a glass of chilled port. 11 Travessa dos Congregados, 00 351 222 002 822 O Paparico – for fine dining with locals At O Paparico you have to knock on the door as you would at a friend’s house. Exquisite presentation and sophisticated cooking hint at Michelin aspirations, that locals kept secret as long as they could. Try the octopus ceviche with olive oil, onion and coriander. Taylor’s port house – for port tastings Clamber up the steep, cobble street on the Gaia side of the Douro river (accessed by crossing the Luís I bridge) to reach Taylor’s port house and its peaceful, rose-filled courtyard. Pull up a chair (mind the resident cockerel, who likes to make his voice heard occasionally) and order the Introduction to Taylor’s tasting flight – five ports ranging from simple white to easy-drinking LBV, brown tawny (popular amongst Brits) and a sought-after 20-year old vintage. taylor.pt Sol e Sombra Bifanas – for bifana sandwiches You probably won’t be able to order anything specific at this bar, perched on one of Porto’s many hills, unless you speak fluent Portuguese. But trust in the warm owner. He’ll bring you seriously cheap bifana bread roll sandwiches, filled with pork steak and cooking liquor – which simmers happily in the window, luring customers inside – flavoured with garlic, chilli and secret spices. Bacalhau (croquettes of salted cod) are pre-made and served cold, and even if you ordered a round of vinho verde (like we did), or bottles of Super Bock beer, you’d still have change from a €20 euro note. Look out for the caracóis (aka Portuguese snails), too! facebook.com/Sol-e-Sombra-Bifanas Taberna do Largo – for pre-dinner drinks and snacks At modern drinking hole Taberna do Largo, the menu takes you on a journey through Portugal via some of the country’s best small-scale producers. Local wines, cheeses, meats, olive oils and even teas are covered... order a Porto tonico while you choose. 69 Largo de São Domingos, 00 351 222 082 154 Cafetaria da Bolsa – for a traditional Portuguese meal With an unassuming frontage, other than a blackboard with that day’s specials, this small, family-run restaurant is the perfect spot if you want simply cooked fish and seafood at great prices. The tiny open-plan kitchen occupies one corner of the room, and from it comes giant prawns, still in their amber coats of armour, which arrive fighting for space on giant plates alongside hunks of garlic and bay leaves. Sweet clams, clattering in their pretty ivory shells, come cooked in garlic, chopped herbs and olive oil. Try the sardines, grilled and tender, with new potatoes, grilled peppers and onions, and chips on the side (because if you can’t double carb on holiday, when can you?). And, for something a little more unusual, try the salted codfish mashed with potatoes, boiled egg, black olives and plenty of herbs. Largo São Domingos 23, 4050-253 Porto Rosa et Al Townhouse – for brunch If you’ve already sorted your accommodation, it’s worth soaking up Rosa et Al’s chic and cosy vibe over brunch. 50 jars of tea (some made with herbs from the garden) cover a large serving table; you can choose your own Portuguese tinned cod or sardines; and there’s a dinky walled garden out back where you can sit around tiled tables, eating eggs with spruced-up sides and drinking freshly squeezed orange juice in the sunshine. rosaetal.pt PROVA – for wine There’s more to Portugal’s wines than port. Explore the distinct qualities of each of the country’s wine regions at this cosy bar, kicking off with a glass of dão and a carefully paired selection of cured meats. prova.com.pt Padaria Ribeiro – for traditional bakes Get some energy for sightseeing along Porto’s cobblestone streets with breakfast at Padaria Ribeiro, open since 1878. Order the pirilampos (little worm-shaped crunchy biscuits), or a lanche – a sandwich-like snack filled with ham, sausage and bacon. padariaribeiro.com Mercado do Bolhão – for market shopping The 19th-century Mercado do Bolhão dazzles with fruit and veg, cured hams, regional cheeses and freshly caught fish. Take a break at Bolhão wine house and snack on smoked ham from the butcher across the hall, sardines from the nearby fishing village of Matosinhos, and a glass of Moscatel do Douro. 1 Loja, 00 351 222 009 975 Tavi – for donuts and sunsets The juxtaposition of the Douro river and the Atlantic ocean make for some spectacular sunsets, especially in the Foz district. At the Parque da Cidade, this bakery is famous for its bolas de Berlim (custard-filled donuts) and ocean-view terrace. confeitariatavi.com Tascö – for pestiscos (tapas) With its stylish décor, great music, top-notch staff and traditional Portuguese food, this bar is wildly popular. Petiscos – tapas-like portions of larger dishes – are the thing here. Try the pataniscas (similar to a frittata, with cod or octopus), or moelas (stewed gizzards in a spicy tomato sauce). soldoutarena.com Porto neighbourhood spotlight: Bombarda art district (NW Cedofeita) Base yourself in Porto's arty network of cobbled streets brimming with independent shops, tavernas and bars. Book a room at boutique hotel, Rosa et Al, away from the tourist crowds but still within walking distance of the must-visit sites. Relax over breakfast in the hotel's walled garden, pop next door for coffee at Senzu Coffee Roasters or mooch up the road to popular brunch spot, Hakko. Browse the neighbourhood's galleries before seeking out sunny terraces to soak up the lively atmosphere – an olive tree provides shade for locals catching up over a glass of wine at Aduela, while Restaurante a Taska serves a great-value set lunch of hearty Portuguese traditional dishes under the jacaranda trees, which bloom bright purple during the spring months. No-frills bistros in the quieter residential streets include Adega Do Carregal and Lareira – Baixa, or chef Pedro Braga's Mito has a fancier feel for contemporary sharing dishes. Hole-in-the-wall Generosa Pão e Pizza churns out hunky cinnamon rolls and pizza slices all day, to provide sustenance before an evening of wines by the glass at local hub Genuíno wine bar. Stay in the neighbourhood: For a self-catering option, we're fans of this light, bright studio apartment, ideal for a couple. The highlight is the suntrap balcony with pretty views overlooking the Praça Carlo Alberto – perfect for people watching over a coffee during the day and watching the stars with a glass of wine at night. There is a compact kitchen with an induction cooktop for when you want to cook for yourself. From £89 per night, check availability at airbnb.com Where to stay in Porto Rosa et Al Townhouse This six-room hotel is a lesson in boutique design. Rooms blessed with original wooden floorboards, cornicing and sash windows that lead to balconies are made even more beautiful with claw-footed baths, contemporary furniture and local art. There's a trendy food shop that doubles with a reception desk. For breakfast and brunch, 50 jars of tea (some made with herbs from the garden) cover a large serving table; you can choose your own Portuguese tinned cod or sardines; and there’s a dinky walled garden out back where you can sit around tiled tables, eating eggs with spruced-up sides and drinking freshly squeezed orange juice in the sunshine. Doubles from £111, check availability at booking.com. Photographs by Getty, Alex Crossley and Laura Rowe Words by Alex Crossley, Keith Kendrick and Laura Rowe
Looking for the best spots to eat pizza in the capital? We've rounded up our top places, whether you’re after a New York-style slice or an artisanal sourdough base
Looking for the best pizza in London? Here's our guide to the best pizza places in London and the best takeaway pizza. Whether you want a sourdough pizza base or a traditional Neapolitan pizza, we’ve found the best pizza restaurants in London. From pizza in Brixton to pizza in North London, check out our favourite pizza places. If you fancy making your own pizza, check out our best ever pizza recipes here, or read the lowdown on pizza styles and where to find them. Check out more of our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Kings Cross, best restaurants in Chelsea, best restaurants in Brixton and best restaurants in Paddington. Also see our pick of the best Italian restaurants in London for more pizza and other regional dishes. Best for crispy 18-inch pizzas: Spring Street Pizza Tucked beneath the arches off Southwark Bridge Road, Spring Street Pizza is the latest project from Michelin-starred chef Tom Kemble. Drawing on over 15 years’ experience at the helm of acclaimed restaurants, Kemble brings a refined yet relaxed approach to this pizzeria, merging the bold character of New York pizza joints with a polished London aesthetic. Which pizza to order at Spring Street Pizza? Impressive 18-inch New York-style pizzas are available whole or as half-and-half, crafted with premium ingredients for maximum flavour. The dough is made in-house and undergoes a 48–72 hour fermentation, resulting in a crust that is light, crisp and perfect for dipping into house sauces such as green goddess and confit garlic aioli. The menu caters for traditionalists with classic marinara and margherita options, while those seeking something more adventurous might opt for the New Yorker, topped with San Marzano tomato, pepperoni from rebel charcuterie, Parmigiano Reggiano, hot honey and basil. What else is there to eat and drink? Try the fried breadcrumb mozzarella sticks finished with 22-month parmesan, or round off your meal with smooth vanilla soft-serve, sour cherry and pistachio. The drinks list is carefully chosen, including cocktails, wines and beers; notable choices are the mezcal margarita with a hint of chilli and a zesty Italian orange wine. Address: Arch 32, Southwark Quarter, Southwark St, London SE1 1TE Nearest tube station: London Bridge Opening times: Tuesday (5pm-10pm); Wednesday-Saturday (12pm-10pm); Sunday (12pm-9pm) Best for NYC-style slices: Vincenzo's Shoreditch Vincenzo's in Shoreditch is the second location from Tom Vincent, who opened his first location in Bushey in 2022 and watched it become a cult favourite. You can now find his signature crispy, thin-crust whole pies and pizza by the slice in the capital, bringing New York’s late-night energy and providing Londoners with a new way to enjoy pizza: fresh, hot, generous slices to grab and go. It's made such a mark that it's already a buzzing London institution. Which pizza to order at Vincenzo's? Order by the slice or indulge in a 16-inch pie if you're hungry. NYC fold is served on grease-stained paper plates, with simple toppings alongside the likes of spicy vodka sauce, plus a fun take on a Greek-inspired spanakopita. NY slices are the emphasis, however our favourite has to be the focaccia, served by the square: it's tangy, chewy and loaded with premium toppings like burrata and pepperoni (drizzled in hot honey, no less). Super heavenly, though be warned: you may never look at pizza the same way again. What else is there to eat and drink? It's primarily a grab and go situation, with just a few stools to perch, so the only thing left to order are the quietly formidable dips: a hot and sweet roquito ranch (our favourite), truffle mayo, garlic and herb, and hot honey. There's also a range of soft drinks. Address: 122 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 6DG Nearest tube station: Shoreditch High Street Opening times: Wednesday-Sunday (12pm-10pm) Best for contemporary Neapolitan pizza: Renaissance Award-winning pizzaiolo Marco Fuso brings 20 years of expertise to this friendly south London pizzeria. Taking a contemporary Neapolitan approach, the team uses a slow-risen dough and employs a 48-hour fermentation process, alongside a focus on experimental Italian ingredients. Unlike traditional wood-fired ovens, Renaissance uses a high-tech Moretti Forni electric oven – pizza is cooked at around 370 degrees for a few minutes to produce a bite which is soft and light, with a crisp, blistered crust. Which pizza to order at Renaissance? Expect a lot of options with up to 20 pizzas on offer. We were drawn to the unique flavours of the zucca piccante (pumpkin sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, stilton, ‘nduja di Spilinga, parmesan and Italian sausage). Pumpkin and 'nduja made a winning flavour combination, striking a perfect balance of cream and heat. You can also expect classic favourites like salami, featuring rich San Marzano tomatoes and creamy fior di latte mozzarella. What else is there to eat and drink? Marco’s commitment to spotlighting premium produce is demonstrated in the Italian-led drinks menu. We enjoyed a light refreshing Amarcord lager and a herbal Cynar spritz, which acts as the perfect bridge between an Aperol and Campari. For dessert, skip the tiramisu and order the the pasticciotto leccese, a delicacy from Marco's hometown of Lecce: a little shortcrust pie filled with gooey pistachio cream and dusted with icing sugar, it should be a fixture at all pizzerias. Address: 1 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1HG Nearest train station: Clapham Junction Opening times: Tuesday-Thursday (5pm-10pm); Friday (5pm-11pm); Saturday (12pm-11pm); Sunday (12pm-9:30pm) Best for authentic Neapolitan pizza: Fatto a Mano Fatto a Mano pays homage to the classic Neapolitan pizza, where soft and pillowy is favoured over thin and crispy. Dough is made from scratch every day, proved for a minimum of 24 hours then topped by a pizzaioli who cooks each pizza in a wood-fired oven at 450 degrees for no more than 90 seconds (just as they do in Naples). You can enjoy a slice of Fatto’s wood-fired magic at its newest branch in Soho. Which pizza to order at Fatto a Mano? Pizzas are lightly digestible and beautiful swollen at the cornicione rims, topped with artisanal ingredients such as ventricina (spicy salami), Neal's Yard goat's cheese and friarielli (Neapolitan broccoli). We enjoyed the special, Bella Disgrazia (the beautiful disgrace), a creative spin on the controversial ham and pineapple that combined spicy roast pineapple, spicy salami, black pepper pancetta, mozzarella, parmesan and chives, drizzled in ‘nduja honey. What else is there to eat and drink? Those looking for a full-on feast are in luck with comforting Italian starters and sides in abundance. Highlights include hot, crisp and perfectly plump truffle and gorgonzola arancini, and the spicy beef and pork ragu lasagne fritta, paired with a pot of 'nduja honey. For drinks kickstart the evening with a classic aperitivo such as a negroni, then make your way through the impressive list of Italian wines or Brighton beers. A wedge of gelato cookie sandwich is compulsory to wrap up proceedings, a salty-sweet blend of honeycomb and salted caramel. Address: 95 Dean St, London W1D 3SX Nearest tube station: Tottenham Court Road Opening times: Mon-Thurs 12-10pm, Friday-Saturday 12-10:30pm, Sunday 12-9:30pm Best for 'Britalian' pizza: Connie's Find this smart and cosy pizzeria set under the arches of Queen’s Road Peckham, taking over the site formerly occupied by South African restaurant Little Kudu. It is the latest project from Andrea Asciuti, founder of acclaimed Neapolitan hot spot 081 Pizzeria. Named after his wife, the focus is on Britalian style pizzas, injecting London-style pizza (light, crispy, premium toppings) with Italian soul, all while using seasonal, local ingredients. Which pizza to order at Connie's? Andrea leaves his expertise in Neapolitan-style pizza behind for pies which are crisp and airy, with dough fermented for 36-48 hours and baked at 370C using American flour (you won't find floppy slices here). Expect up to eight different pizzas on the menu, from a classic margherita to a double pepperoni with hot honey, as well as 'nduja and British stracciatella. What else is there to eat and drink? There is a quartet of starters to choose from: cheesy dough balls, deep-fried mac ’n’ cheese, mozzarella sticks and meatballs. The mozzarella fingers easily make it into the cheese-pull hall of fame, while the mac 'n' cheese bites make crunchy morsels which taste even better liberally dunked into a pot of tangy blue cheese sauce. There is one dessert, presented in three forms: fiocco di neve mini brioche filled with either pistachio, Nutella or ricotta whipped cream. Address: 133 Queen’s Road, SE15 2ND. Nearest train station: Queen's Road Peckham Opening times: Monday-Wednesday (5-11pm); Thursday-Saturday (12-11pm); Sunday (12-10pm) Best for deep-dish Detroit pizza: Ria's Ria’s is a cosy, laid-back spot selling fantastic deep-dish Detroit-style pizza and natural wines. It's perfect for intimate dates and candle-lit catch-ups, full of charm and character. The latest Soho site is snug yet stylishly furnished, building on everything that made the Notting Hill original a hit, with exciting new slices and a low-lit wine cave. Which pizza to order at Ria's? Ria’s ferments its dough for up to 72 hours, which gives it a deeper flavour and a deliciously chewy crust. Deep-dish pizza is filling but the pies at Ria’s never feel too much. Our favourite flavours were the House Pie and the Soho Chilli Crisp. The first had a red sauce base and a devilishly delicious combination of ricotta, basil and lemon drizzle. The latter was laden with ’nduja, Lao Gan Ma crispy chilli oil, pickled shallots, spring onions and aged parmesan – tongue-tingling and tangy. What else is there to eat and drink? There is a great range of natural wine to sip alongside your slice at Ria’s: we enjoyed a glass of Orange de Rias for its tropical brightness, and a glass of Herrigoia – a crunchy, easy-going red with tart cherry notes. There's also a small but sharp cocktail list, bottled beer and a good range of soft drinks. If you’ve got room for dessert, treat yourself to a deep-fried Mars bar with soft serve vanilla ice cream. Sprinkled with a little bit of sea salt, it really is the ultimate treat. Address: 29 Foubert's Place, London W1F 7QF Nearest tube station: Oxford Circus Opening times: Monday-Sunday (12pm-10pm) Best for London-style pizza: Dough Hands Dough Hands has garnered a cult following due to its crisp dough and feather-light crust, made possible by baking its pizzas low and slow at 350 degrees. Led by pizzaiolo Hannah Drye, this trendy pizza joint is co-pioneering the emerging London pizza, a style which mashes up various influences including a New York inspired thin crust and light base. Dough Hands is currently doing a permanent kitchen residency at fun-loving south London pub The Old Nun's Head, as well as Hackney-based The Spurstowe Arms. Which pizza to order at Dough Hands? The menu features a handful of 12-inch pizzas. The Jode – arguably the most popular and delicious – sees spicy sausage and stracciatella drizzled with hot honey, finished with a sprinkle of fresh basil and parmesan. Veggies have a cause to celebrate thanks to the Shroomy 2.0, one of the freshest vegetarian offerings we’ve tried. Expect mushrooms roasted in soy sauce, topped with soft taleggio cheese, tarragon, garlic and grana padano. The soy provides a rich umami kick which isn’t typically seen atop mushroom pizzas. What else is there to eat and drink? Sides are kept simple, with just the garlic bread available, covered in a herby garlic butter. Dips includes everyone’s favourite garlic and herb, as well as Dough Hands’ signature hot honey and very own fermented hot sauce. Happy Endings ice cream sandwiches are also available at the bar. We washed down our pizzas with a cold beer – we opted for a pint of Lucky Saint lager and a Lazer Crush by Beavertown, a razor-sharp alcohol-free IPA. Address: The Old Nun's Head, 15 Nunhead Green, London SE15 3QQ Nearest train station: Nunhead Opening times: Tuesday-Friday (4:30-9:30pm) and Saturday (12-9:30pm) Best for inventive Napoli pizza: Napoli on the Road Hidden in the back streets of Richmond you'll find this little gem of a pizza restaurant. The space is intimate and perfect for a date night or special occasion. Which pizza to order at Napoli on the Road? The pizza here is second to none – no surprise really as chef and owner Michele Pascarella won Global Pizza Maker of the Year in 2023. Famed for his inventive take on pizza, the ever-changing seasonal menu features exciting flavour combinations like roasted pumpkin, rosemary and blue cheese, alongside the classics, like margherita. On visiting, we were blown away by the lighter than air, chewy base and quality toppings, as well as the friendly service which took us outside our pizza comfort zones. What else is there to eat and drink? Highlights include the shaved fennel salad with crumbled ricotta, olives and oregano, and the spicy pepperoni slice – both starters that worked perfectly with a negroni. We ended the night with a vast slice of tiramisu and a cloud of boozy crème diplomate and mille-feuille pastry. Full to the brim and happy, a walk along the river was just the ticket. Address: 12 Red Lion St, Richmond TW9 1RW Nearest train station: Richmond Opening times: Monday-Thursday (5pm-10pm); Friday-Sunday (12pm-10:15pm) Best for simple Neapolitan: Santa Maria Tucked away from the bustle of Paddington Station, Santa Maria brings a slice of Naples to west London with a laid-back, quirky vibe – think colourful wall art, cosy booths and a buzzy, casual energy. A new menu features bold creations alongside the signature Neapolitan pizzas. The menu is all about pizza, done properly – chewy, charred crusts and punchy toppings, with a few exciting twists. Which pizza to order at Santa Maria? The standout? San Ciro – a collaboration with Naples’ Bro Pizzeria and a fiery, rule-breaking combo of smoked mozzarella, pepperoni, spicy pineapple reduction, black lime dust and parmesan crisps. The menu cheekily warns “It’s not a pizza for Neapolitans” – a nod to the rebellious twist on tradition, and it’s absolutely worth trying while it lasts. What else is there to eat and drink? Skip starters and go straight for the pizza but leave room for the Pan di Stelle dessert – a rich mascarpone and Nutella chocolate mousse crowned with Italy’s iconic biscuit. Vegan options are well represented, including a silky vegan salted caramel ice cream that shines in an affogato. Drinks-wise, expect Italian beers and spritzes, and relaxed, no-fuss service. Address: 3 Norfolk Place, Tyburnia, London W2 1QJ Nearest train station: Paddington Opening times: Sunday to Thursday (11:30am-10pm); Friday-Saturday (11:30am-10:30pm) Best for deep pan pizza: Little Earthquakes This original concept from chef Neil Rankin and From the Ashes BBQ has taken up residency in Dalston boozer The Railway Tavern, serving up pies nostalgically inspired by deep pan pizza brand Chicago Town, using Italian and British ingredients supplied by local businesses around Newington Green, with sourdough bases made using Wildfarmed regenerative flour. Which pizza to order at Little Earthquakes? The pizzas may only be six inches in size but they deliver plenty of bang for their buck – decadent deep dish affairs with crunchy caramelised crusts, topped with mozzarella and snowy drifts of pecorino. Fillings are hearty and deliver maximum flavour. We tried the richly meaty and umami salami ragu using fennel salami, and the taleggio and guanciale, inspired by a classic carbonara, is lusciously cheesy and porky, the saltiness balanced by a touch of honey. What else is there to eat and drink? While the pizzas are the main focus you can also order the likes of plant-based meatballs (from Neil’s own Symplicity brand), cheesy focaccia, caponata parmigiana and a wonderfully OTT pizza focaccia sandwich with a hefty wedge of mortadella. Refresh yourself with traditional cask ales and craft beers from the pub bar. Address: The Railway Tavern, 2 St Jude Street, London N16 8JT Nearest train station: Dalston Kingsland Opening times: Tuesday to Friday (6-9pm); Saturdays (3-9pm) Best for thin-crust pizza: Alley Cats Pizza Alley Cats pays homage to New York’s iconic pizza scene, with hunger-busting, thin and crispy 14" pizzas. London’s latest pizza outpost off Marylebone High Street is a small yet buzzy space, with gingham tablecloths, dimly lit lamps and a projector playing The Sopranos transporting diners to 90s NYC. Be prepared to queue, as it’s walk-in-only. Which pizza to order at Alley Cats? If you prefer a thin-crust over a sloppy Neapolitan, you’ve come to the right place. The impressive 14" size is achieved through baking the pizzas in the traditional thin and crispy style, which are presented on silver stands by the side of your table. The menu is compact, with seven pizzas on offer. It includes the Smoked Pepperoni (tomato, aged mozzarella, habanero and honey) and our personal favourite, the white-based Wild Mushroom, with three types of wild shrooms and topped with taleggio, aged mozzarella, red onion jam and fried sage. Up the ante by adding dips – we tried a spicy ranch and herb-flecked aïoli. What else is there to eat and drink? Don’t skip the starters for fear of over-ordering: the beefy meatballs are a must-try, slathered in slow-cooked tomato sauce and showered in aged parmesan. Cheesy garlic knots are hot, doughy morsels with a dunkable pot of tomato sauce. The dessert menu is short but complimentary: tiramisu and soft scoop ice-cream. The latter can be customised with your choice of toffee sauce, roasted hazelnuts or peanuts. Address: 22 Paddington St, London W1U 5QY Nearest tube station: Baker Street Opening times: Monday-Sunday (12pm-11pm) Best for crunchy sourdough pizzas: Berberè Pizza Find this Italian pizza empire slinging light and crunchy sourdough pizzas in its newest Tottenham Court Road location, joining Clapham and Kentish Town branches. Originating from Bologna – with locations across Italy – Berberè prepares its sourdough on site every day with organic type one flour, proofed for 24 hours. The result is unique: a subtly sour, nutty taste, with a slightly crunchy exterior and soft, melty interior – no chewy crusts served here! Which pizza to order at Berberè? Expect a menu balancing the classics, including margheritas and marinaras, with trendy toppings and fresh British produce, such as Yorkshire pork sausage. The Instagram-friendly burrata & 'nduja is a picture-perfect blend of vibrant basil, ruby-red dried tomatoes and creamy white mozzarella. Veggies needn’t miss out thanks to the Norma – baked aubergines, basil and walnut pesto, organic tomato, fior di latte mozzarella from Naples and smoked aged ricotta. Definitely one of the best aubergine pizzas on the scene right now. What else is there to eat and drink? You must try Berberè’s signature montanarine: a large, deep-fried dough ball with toppings including ‘nduja, aged smoked ricotta and prosciutto. Crust dippers are crucial – we love the cheeky trio of garlic butter, spicy ‘nduja and honey, and basil and walnut pesto. To drink, you can’t go wrong with a Crodino spritz – a non-alcoholic aperitivo lengthened with orange and soda. Or try a traditional Italian aperitif – negroni sbagliato, anyone? For dessert, tiramisu is made every day in the kitchen or save space for two pieces of Sicilian cannoli: fresh, sweet ricotta in a crispy shell. Address: 2 St Giles Square, London WC2H 8LH Nearest tube station: Tottenham Court Road Opening times: Sunday-Thursday (11:30am-10pm) Friday-Saturday (11:30am-11pm) Best in Covent Garden: Doughnation Find this lively pizzeria in the heart of Covent Garden, boasting its own summer garden terrace with top-tier views across the piazza. Which pizza to order at Doughnation? Choose from a short menu of artisan-crafted pizzas on hand-stretched dough, where you’ll find well-known toppings as well as fun flavour combinations. A must-order for veggies, the truffled mushroom ragout sees a truffle-base sauce combined with creamy mozzarella, topped with crunchy hazelnuts and mushrooms for extra earthiness. Or try the cosy and comforting potato pizza, layering sliced potatoes with fontina cheese and thyme salt. ‘Nduja sausage will appeal to meat-eaters, featuring pockets of ‘nduja sausage, shaved pecorino romano and rocket. What else is there to eat and drink? Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find dishes which stray from a traditional pizzeria, like the baked sweetcorn ribs with basil pesto, chilli and bocconcini cheese. For dessert, a warm skillet cookie, served with a dollop of chocolate ice cream and a white chocolate sauce, makes for an indulgent finish. Address: 3 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8PS Nearest tube station: Covent Garden Opening times: Monday-Sunday (8am-11pm) Best in Soho: Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza Rudy’s outpost in Soho (they have pizzerias scattered across the north of England, including Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds) makes a worthy addition to the scene. Which pizza to order at Rudy's? Pizza toppings are crowd-pleasing, from parmigiana with roasted aubergine to spicy calabrese with ‘nduja sausage and cinghiale with wild boar salami. Our lavishly topped capricciosa with creamy fior de latte, prosciutto, mushrooms, Kalamata olives and artichoke hearts ticked all the boxes, but it was the base that really impressed — well-flavoured and pillowy while still being satisfyingly chewy. All of Rudy’s pizzas — baked daily using 24-hour fermented dough — are made by trained and accredited pizzaiolos. What else is there to eat and drink? Start with an aperitivo of Campari and soda, which arrives premixed in a dinky little bottle alongside a bowl of salted crisps for snacking, before moving onto generous sharing platters loaded with deli treats and house-baked bread. Address: 80 Wardour Street, London, W1F 0TF Nearest tube station: Piccadilly Circus Opening times: Friday-Saturday (12-10:30pm), Sunday-Thursday (12-9:30pm) Best for personalised Neapolitan pizza (plus fans of crusts): Crust Bros If crusts are a big deal to you, it’s worth paying a visit to this Waterloo-based pizzeria. The clue is in the name – crusts are a big deal here, as well as the freedom to customise your pizza however you please (regardless of your eccentric topping combination). Which pizza to order at Crust Bros? Personalise is the name of the game here. Choose from either a Neapolitan or gluten-free base, pick your sauce (red, white, pesto, vegan), protein (‘nduja, anchovies, parma ham etc.), cheese (burrata, gorgonzola, vegan mozzarella etc.) and veg (peppers, onions, aubergines, chilli etc). If this seems complicated, choose from its list of pre-designed pizzas – Straight Outta Hell is a devilish combo of mozzarella, chicken, chillies, pepperoni and ’nduja. You could even add burrata for extra indulgence. What else is there to eat and drink? Double up on carbs with a side of cheesy flatbread topped with caramelised onions. Crust dippers will be more than happy with its offering, and we'd recommend ordering the trio of truffle, garlic and spicy mayos. To drink, Birra Moretti is on draft, while cocktails cover the classics, from Aperol spritz and margarita to espresso martini. Address: 113 Waterloo Road, Lambeth London, SE1 8UL Nearest tube station: Waterloo Opening times: Mon-Thurs 12-11pm, Fri-Sat 12-11pm, Sunday 12-10pm Best artisanal pizza in Hackney Wick: Unlock Enjoy Neapolitan pizza by the canal at this trendy pizzeria-cum-exhibition space in Hackney Wick. Artist collaborations decorate the walls, while pizzaiolos sling pies from the wood-fired oven in the open kitchen. Which pizza to order at unlock? The menu is split into ‘classic’ and ‘gourmet’, and we encourage diners to opt for the more adventurous options. Toppings feature ingredients which you wouldn’t typically find on pizza, from kiwi purée to panko tempura prawns and sweet and sour pork neck. The base, however, is true to Neapolitan form, with a soft, chewy dough and blistered crust. We tried the prawn and pistachio from the gourmet section, and the nutty pistachio pesto and creamy stracciatella was a strong match for the crispy tempura prawns. What else is there to eat and drink? Starters are sophisticated and honour Italian produce: think smoked straciatella with Vesuvio apple vinegar and quinoa crumbles. To drink, choose from a short list of Italian wine, beer on tap and traditional Italian cocktails. Address: 1 Monkwood Way, London E32EG Nearest tube station: Hackney Wick Opening times: Tuesday-Thursday (1pm-10pm), Friday-Sunday (12-11:30pm) Best vegetarian and vegan pizza in London: Flat Earth Pizza Flat Earth Pizza has moved into its first bricks and mortar location, an intimate space with bottle green and rattan furnishings. This sustainable pizza joint puts veg at the forefront and dismantles the idea of pizza as ‘junk food’: the dough is neither refined or processed, while ingredients are sourced locally. Which pizza to order at Flat Earth Pizza? Experimental pizza lies at the heart of Flat Earth, and the offerings do not disappoint. The ‘Hackey hot’ – an oval-shaped pizza with sweet pickled beetroot, a mixture of three Somerset cheeses, jalapeños, fermented hot salsa and tomato passata – has sweet warmth, while the ‘Kimchi Fiorentina’ with kimchi, tomato passata, beetroot crumb and egg, is a Korean twist on a veggie classic (vegans have the option of a plant-based mozzarella pie). What else is there to eat and drink? Start with a selection of well-designed vegan small plates to share, such as pickled beetroot and turmeric-spiced white cabbage, roasted red onions with caramelised shallots, chives and soubise and hummus with sweet house pickles and springy house focaccia. Drink natural orange wine on tap during summery evenings, or try the foraged fig leaf and sweet woodruff martini. Finish with a gooey vegan sea salt brownie with salted caramel ice cream. Address: 286-290 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 9DA Nearest tube station: Cambridge Heath Opening times: Tuesday (5-10pm), Wednesday-Thursday (11am-10pm), Friday (11am-10:30pm), Saturday (10am-10:3opm), Sunday (10am-4pm) Best pizza and beer in East London: Ace Pizza at Pembury Tavern This historic Hackney boozer is the home of Ace Pizza, a fun-loving pizza brand famed for its slow risen, picture-perfect Neapolitan pizzas which are stone baked for longer to achieve a crispier crust. Pembury Tavern is also under the stewardship of The Five Points Brewing Company, a local and independent brewery with modern brewing at the heart of its work. Which pizza to order at Ace? If you like your pizzas heavily topped, doughy and with lashings of sauce, try the chicken shawarma, a fun spin on the classic kebab where house-made shawarma is layered with red onions, spicy marinara, garlic and herb sauce, Guindilla peppers, mozzarella, and fresh parsley. Pickled pink onion is the magic ingredient though, providing a gloriously tangy flavour to cut through the creamy garlic sauce. What else is there to eat and drink? Pizzas span meat, veggie and vegan with the menu divided into red, white and green bases. Vegans can indulge in ‘Ooh Mami’, the creamy truffle bechamel providing the perfect base for a smattering of portobello mushrooms, cashew ricotta, caramelised onions, oregano oil, porcini salt and fresh parsley. Crust dippers include the enticing truffle aioli and a lip-smacking, fittingly named ‘crack sauce’. And, as the pub is a Five Points Brewery pub, plenty of beer is available to pair with your pizza, including a Five Points favourite the JUPA, a juicy and fruity pale ale with bold, citrus flavours. Address: 90 Amhurst Rd, London E8 1JH Nearest tube station: Hackney Downs Opening times: Monday-Wednesday (4-11pm) Thursday-Friday (4-12am) Saturday (12-12am) Sunday (12-11pm) Best Neapolitan pizza in London: Vicoli di Napoli Pizzeria For the ultimate Neapolitan pizza in London, head to Stoke Newington (and be prepared to queue) for a seat in Vicoli di Napoli Pizzeria, as recommended in the book ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. This Neapolitan family first began making pizza back in 1870, and the business is still going strong five generations later with sites in Naples, Tokyo and, London. Which pizza to order at Pizzeria da Michele? Go for the classic marinara or the margarita (with the option for double mozzarella). Each of the ingredients used is of the highest quality, from the thin, pillowy soft base to the sweet tomatoes and fresh peppery basil. Address: 125 Stoke Newington Church St, Stoke Newington, London, N16 0UH Nearest overground station: Stoke Newington Opening times: Tuesday – Saturday (12 –11pm), Sunday (12 – 10.30pm) Best for progressive Italian: Lamezia Maria Dell’aquilla took over the reins of her parents’ restaurant in April and describes her new menus as “progressive Italian” in view of its combination of the original Calabrian dishes and her own inspired addition of nutrition-inspired elements, such as hemp and turmeric bases as well as vegan, gluten-free dough and dairy-free cheese. Which pizza to order at Lamezia? Hemp pizza is not the first ground-breaking dish to come out of Lamezia: Maria’s father, Franco, created his signature ’nduja pizza 10 years ago and it’s still the bestseller. Address: 165 Holloway Road, London, N7 8LX| Nearest station: Holloway Road Opening times: Tuesday – Thursday (12 – 10pm), Friday – Saturday (12 – 12am), Sunday (12 – 10pm) Best for vegan pizza: Purezza The UK’s first 100% vegan pizzeria, Purezza specialises in plant-based pizzas that respect the Neapolitan heritage. Where possible, this means using alternative versions of animal products, such as a plant-based mozzarella, which took more than two years to develop – this organic cheese (that’s dairy-free, low in fat and allergen-free) is made with brown rice milk and is unique to Purezza. Last year, the restaurant secured investment to begin producing the cheese from a factory for retail. The original Brighton restaurant opened in 2015 and was followed three years later by a Camden branch and plans for more later this year. In 2018, Purezza won National Pizza of the Year for its Parmigiana Party pizza, despite being the only plant-based entrant. Address: 43 Parkway, London, Nw1 7PN Nearest station: Camden Town Opening times: Sunday – Thursday (12 – 10pm), Friday – Saturday (12 – 11pm) Best for seasonal toppings: Manifesto Former Natoora director, Vittorio Maschio, has opened his first London pizzeria with a focus on carefully sourced and seasonal toppings. Flour comes from Molino Pasini, a family-run mill in North Italy, while fior di latte is brought over from Puglia. The biga-style dough (meaning it proves for 48-hours, creating a ciabatta-like texture) with a semolina-coated crust creates a super light, crisp base which holds its shape well when topped with sweet tomatoes. There's a laid-back vibe and minimalist design to the place with a few wooden tables inside, help-yourself counter service and a pile of boxes ready to be filled for takeaway. Which pizza to order at Manifesto? The stripped back menu offers six pizzas, two beers (from Hackney Wick's Crate Brewery), four wines and two Sicilian soft drinks. Keep it simple with the tomato and co. pizza topped with wild cantabrian anchovies and taggiasche olives, or order the pig and field option piled with peppery pedrazzoli ham and mushrooms if you want something more filling. There are no starters or desserts, but pizzas are reasonable in size. If you're still peckish, go back and order seconds. Address: 148 Northcote Road, London, SW11 6RD Nearest station: Clapham Junction Opening times: Monday – Saturday (11 – 11pm), Sunday (11 – 10.30pm) Best sourdough pizza in London: Theo’s Head to Theo’s in Camberwell for the best sourdough pizza in London. Its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas are the best in South London. Which pizza to order at Theo's? The Scotch Bonnet nduja is the menu must-order, as the spiced sausage is made across the road by the team at the Camberwell Arms pub. What else is there to eat and drink? Save room for a serving of Theo's outrageously good tiramisu, and order a negroni bianco or espresso martini to finish. If you don’t fancy sitting in, Theo’s do delivery, so it’s up there with the best takeaway pizza in London, too. Address: 2 Grove Ln, Camberwell, London, SE5 8SY Nearest overground station: Denmark Hill Opening times: Monday (12 – 10pm), Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday (12 – 10:30pm), Friday – Saturday (12 – 11pm) Best pizza slice in London: Voodoo Ray’s For the best slice of pizza in London, head to Voodoo Ray’s for a New York style slice. With four locations across East, North and South London, this joint bakes 22-inch pizzas topped with everything from wild mushroom, squash and red onion; salt beef, sauerkraut and emmental and a vegan option, piled high with artichoke hearts and green olives. Which pizza to order at Voodoo Ray's? If you fancy a pizza pie for brunch, Voodoo Ray's serve 10” pizzas on the weekend topped with classic eggs and bacon or a veggie spinach and ricotta version. What else is there to eat and drink? With a selection of craft beers (think Beavertown, Red Hook and Kona) and frozen margaritas on offer, Voodoo Ray's is the place to go for a late-night munch. Address: 95 Kingsland High St, London, E8 2PB Nearest overground station: Dalston Kingsland Opening times: Monday – Wednesday (5 – 12am), Thursday (5 – 1am), Friday – Saturday (12 – 3am), Sunday (12 – 12am) Best pizza joint atmosphere in London: Yard Sale What started as a weekly supper club in owner Johnnie’s back yard has grown to three restaurants (with another opening in March 2018) offering the best pizza in North London. Grab a leather booth seat close to the kitchens for the comfiest spot in house and order a 12 or 18-inch pizza topped with slow cooked tomato sauce and fior di latte mozzarella. The blistered base is crisp yet doughy which gets slightly sloppy when you reach the centre (so napkins are necessary). Which pizza to order at Yard Sale? There’s no holding back when it comes to toppings, be it the ‘TSB’, a mixture of Tender stem broccoli, manchego, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil; ‘Cour Bimey’ topped with courgette ribbon, pancetta and black pepper, or, one for the cheese lovers, ‘Cheesus Walks’, a white base piled high with basil pesto, mozzarella, gorgonzola, ricotta and parmesan. What else is there to eat and drink? If you’ve got room for more, order a garlic pizza bread with cheese and Marmite for the ultimate punchy umami experience. There’s a great choice of beers from Beavertown and the Five Points Brewing Company. Address: 54 Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2DW Nearest tube station: Finsbury Park Opening times: Monday – Thursday (5 – 11pm), Friday (4 – 11pm), Saturday (12 – 11pm), Sunday (12 – 10pm) Best unusual pizza toppings in London: Homeslice Homeslice is one of the best pizza restaurants in London with sites in Shoreditch, Fitzrovia, City and Covent Garden. Whether you want to eat in or takeaway, you can order just a slice or a 20-inch pizza. Which pizza to order at Homeslice? Go all out and split your pizza 50/50 with two different flavours, ideal for sharing. Choose between a classic margherita; a salty salami, rocket and parmesan or a slice topped with kimchi, porcini cream and basil. Address: 13 Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9DP Nearest tube station: Covent Garden Opening times: Monday – Sunday (12 – 11pm) Best all-round pizza meal in London: Made of Dough For the best pizza in Brixton and Peckham, visit Made of Dough. The moreish, chewy dough has a 60-hour fermentation process before being cooked in a wood-fired oven, and the mozzarella is fresh from Campania. Which pizza to order at Made of Dough? If you fancy something extra cheesy, order the truffle pizza that comes with fior di latte, white alba truffle oil and an entire ball of Burratina. What else is there to eat and drink? Make sure to order a side of the scotch bonnet romesco sauce to add a spicy kick to the crust, and wash your pizza down with one of the negronis or a fruity pompelmo G&T. Address: 182 Bellenden Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4BW Nearest overground station: Peckham Rye Opening times: Monday – Saturday (12 – 10pm), Sunday (12 – 9pm) Best for pizza garlic bread: Sodo Pizza With six sites across London London, Sodo pizza is the place to go for a light, crispy, tangy base. Which pizza to order at Sodo Pizza? Head to the Walthamstow restaurant on the weekend for a brunch of pizza topped with eggs and sausage and, if it’s warm enough, grab one of the outside tables and order a Bloody Mary or two. What else is there to eat and drink? While the pizzas are great, we love the sourdough garlic bread topped with sweet, crisp rosemary and drizzled with an earthy olive oil. Address: Hatherley Mews, Walthamstow, London, E17 4QP Nearest tube station: Walthamstow Opening times: Tuesday – Friday (12 – 10pm), Saturday – Sunday (10 – 10pm) Fancy something sweet now? Click here for our chocolate chip cookie pizza recipe Photographs: Steven Joyce (Doughnation)
Best London hotels for a stay in the heart of the city's action
Lounge in a freestanding bath tub, take your pick from a pillow menu and tuck into Moroccan eggs with labneh at London’s best hotels
Looking for the best hotels in London? Want to know where to stay in central London? Our guide to London’s best boutique hotels… For more hotel inspiration, discover the best UK spa hotels for food lovers, the most romantic hotels in the UK and the best UK country house hotels. Check out some of our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Fitzrovia, best restaurants in Battersea and best restaurants in Chelsea. Four Seasons Hotel Tower Bridge – for an impressive location Doubles from £562, check availability at fourseasons.com or booking.com On the banks of the Thames, Four Seasons Tower Bridge is as rich and colourful as its historic location. The sweeping beaux-arts building at 10 Trinity Square opened in 1922 as home to the Port of London Authority, and the dramatic architectural legacy of this former centre of trade is felt the moment you step into its marble lobby. At its heart is the Rotunda Bar, topped with a striking glass dome that echoes St Paul's Cathedral. Despite the rich heritage, the interior is thoroughly modern – elegant contemporary furnishings, marble bathrooms and warm wall panelling. Rooms are spacious, cocooned and built for comfort and convenience: we loved that the stereo system extended into the bathroom too. There's a steak restaurant, Cooper's Cut, but we dined at Mei Ume, the contemporary Chinese and Japanese restaurant. The big, bold menu balances crowd-pleasers – whole peking duck, spring rolls, egg fried rice – with more ambitious dishes like slow-cooked Australian abalone, hot stone wagyu beef and roasted black cod, plus an extensive sushi menu spanning futomaki, uramaki, temaki, nigiri and sashimi. A playful dessert of Mei Miao, a yuzu chocolate cat filled with banana sponge and miso mousse, feels perfectly at home in the ornate, high-ceilinged dining room. Breakfast is served in-room or at Rotunda – porridge with treacle and salted butter, a York ham and Neal's Yard Dairy cheddar omelette, bubble and squeak with black pudding, and fluffy pancakes with clotted cream among the standout choices. There is also a gym, spa and serene pool in the basement for guests who want an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. Doubles from £562, check availability at fourseasons.com or booking.com The Hari, Belgravia – for a stylish hotel in the heart of the action Doubles from £387, check availability at booking.com Tucked on smart a Belgravia terrace, this low-key and stylish hotel is bang in the heart of the London action. Its mid-century aesthetic – glossy marble, chic lighting, vintage-leaning furniture – is designer-sharp but warm feeling, and the team strikes a similar balance: relaxed, friendly and focussed. The food action centres on Il Pampero, a handsome Italian dining room with leather booths and mood lighting. The kitchen deals in big-flavour comfort: zingy tartare di tonno, creamy burrata with bitter radicchio and hazelnuts, and pici cacio e pepe spun theatrically through a whole wheel of cheese. There’s a tidy list of Italian wines, classic cocktails at the bar and a small roof terrace for a pre-dinner spritz. Rooms stay faithful to the hotel’s retro-modern polish. Our eighth-floor space framed a wide sweep of London, while the bathroom – clad in all-round marble – held a deep bath built into a bay-style window. Modern artwork, a well-chosen minibar, a slate board of macaroons and truffles on arrival, and sustainable toiletries from Jo Loves added to the thoughtful touches. Breakfast returns to Il Pampero, where a help-yourself counter heaving with smoothies, pastries and fruit sits beside a menu of cooked dishes. Speciality eggs, healthy plates and a reliable full English mean most bases are covered. It’s relaxed, plentiful and exactly what you want before a day exploring the capital. Doubles from £387, check availability at booking.com The Laslett, Notting Hill – for period luxury with modern design From £350 per night, check availability at booking.com Set across a row of Victorian townhouses off Notting Hill Gate, The Laslett is a boutique hotel with heart. It’s polished but unfussy, with clean period detail offset by sharp modern design. Food is served from the informal Henderson Bar & Kitchen. Named after Russ Henderson, one of the founders of the Notting Hill Carnival, it runs a short all-day menu: padrón peppers, gazpacho and prawn croquetas as small plates; chicken milanese, lobster roll or stone bass with fregola for larger options. Ingredients are sourced from London suppliers like HG Walter and Natoora. Desserts include basque cheesecake or warmed chocolate brownie, while the bar serves local beers and classic cocktails. A small terrace for observing the west London street bustle comes into its own in summer. The vibrant rooms make use of airy floor-to-ceiling windows and bold interior design. Penguin Classics, vintage record players with hand-picked vinyl, and antiques from local dealers lend eccentric local character. Breakfast includes full english alongside pancakes, smoothie bowls, granola and the hotel’s signature bagel. Rooms start from £350 a night. Rooms start from £350 per night. Check availability at living-rooms.co.uk or booking.com Beaverbrook Townhouse, Sloane Square – for colourful luxury From £580 per night, check availability at booking.com Sloane Square’s Beaverbrook Townhouse is the city output of the original Surrey hotel, and is just as opulent. Behind the neat, period facade is a riot of art deco splendour and heritage nods. Hotel rooms are all named after London theatres and take interior design to giddy heights, with plushness, pastels, geometrics, florals, terrazzo and more, all thrown together harmoniously – an eccentric British aesthetic that feels very old school London. Unique touches include an epic bathroom with a waterfall shower decked in iridescent emerald tiles, a retractable and rotating TV, and velvety soft furnishings. The hotel’s restaurant is a true hidden gem – The Fuji Grill offers a highly polished Japanese dining experience centred around ‘Tapasu’, a take on tapas-style design that blends classic technique with a communal, small plates spirit. There’s a flawless sushi selection, including signature temaki alongside dishes cooked on a bincho charcoal grill, like sake kombu hispi cabbage, caramel ponzu long aubergine and yuzu miso black cod. The drinks menu, served from the cosily lit Sir Frank’s Bar, is vast and includes inventive cocktails and non-alcoholic versions, plus speciality sake and plenty of Japanese whisky. Service is attentive, friendly and relaxed. Breakfast is also served in the Fuji Grill restaurant, meaning it’s an ambient affair. Dishes include granola with Beaverbrook estate honey, homemade yogurt and peach compote, truffled eggs, full English and spinach scramble. Where to eat and drink nearby Sloane Square is at the heart of central-west London action and is close to Belgravia, Chelsea and Kensington. You’ll find plenty of pubs with great food, including Ganymede, The Pig’s Ear and The Orange, plus special occasion restaurants like Cornus. Rooms start from £580 per night inclusive of breakfast and taxes for two guests in a Deluxe Room. Check availability at Beaverbook Townhouse or booking.com The Hoxton, Southwark – for a buzzy bar and Mediterranean vibe From £189, check availability at booking.com The Hoxton Southwark is a buzzy, 192-bedroom hotel that’s home to a low-key neighbourhood dining spot and a separate rooftop restaurant. Choose from five bedroom sizes with the smallest, Shoebox, offering a king-size bed and wall-to-wall windows, and the most spacious, Biggy, offering a super king-bed, a lounge area and a large bathroom. No matter what the size, you can expect mid-century furniture with vintage touches – pale-green panelled walls, red velvet headboards, dial-up telephones, cream Roberts radios and brass light switches to name a few. Those who want to wallow over a long soak will be disappointed (there are no baths) but spacious rainfall showers feel luxurious, with teal tiles and marble. Albie – the downstairs restaurant, bar and lounge – serves Italian and French-influenced plates, with on-trend terrazzo tables, wicker chairs and flickering tealights matching the Mediterranean design vibe. Take a seat at the marble bar, or sink into a velvet armchair, for a pre-dinner drink. The extensive cocktail menu features Hox classics, imaginatively named tipples with a twist, plus an impressive selection of no-alcohol brews, wines and spirits<. When it comes to food, the squidgy focaccia is a must-order, with a choice of French or Italian olive oil (we go for the former, and it’s got rich, grassy notes and a lusciously thick texture). Over half the menu is veggie; think goats cheese-stuffed courgette flower and burrata with slices of juicy white peach. Mains are on the lighter, so it’s worth opting for one of the heartier plates, such as creamy crab linguine, if you’re very hungry. Desserts steal the show; crème brûlée spiked with fragrant lavender and a tower of crisp, cocoa-dusted mille-feuille sandwiched with praline cream and hazelnuts – think posh Kinder Bueno. For more decadent dining, ride the lift up to Seabird, the hotel’s striking rooftop restaurant, to try something from London’s longest oyster list, or other fresh seafood dishes, against a backdrop of panoramic city views. In the morning, wake up to a light breakfast bag filled with fruit, a granola bar and a zesty juice shot (ginger, lemon, turmeric and apple on our visit), or head downstairs if you want something more substantial. Greenwich-based Paul Rhodes Bakery makes the hotel’s must-try pastries, from flaky pain au chocolat to almond swirls filled with lemony-marzipan, or order wedges of fluffy cinnamon-spiced brioche French toast. Where to eat and drink nearby The thoughtful in-room map and area guide gives guests a top 10 list of things to do south of the river. Among them a trip to the Bermondsey Beer Mile for craft breweries, Borough Market for top-notch food traders and The Blackfriar if you’re in search of a local boozer. Check out our guide to eating in London Bridge for more suggestions. From £189, check availability at booking.com Treehouse London – for a sustainable hotel with skyline views Doubles from £457, check availability at booking.com Treehouse London is a fun – and sustainable – central London hotel with skyline views and child-friendly touches. Treehouse Hotels was founded on the playfulness and sense of adventure that inspire children to want to build treehouses, so it's little surprise that bedrooms here come with handmade, child-friendly details (think sloth teddy bears on the beds and coloured anoraks hanging in wardrobes). Depending on your budget (and need for space) there will almost certainly be a bedroom that suits, from the Lookout Twin, with views of The Shard, to the Skyline King, which overlooks the London Eye. Each room comes with rain showers, digital newspapers and bedside USB outlets. Not to mention cosy window nooks where you can rest and read. Decor is pared-back, with grey walls, white linen and exposed lightbulbs for reading lights, while the hotel's sleek bathrooms bring a touch of nature to proceedings with pot plants and tree stems. There are three restaurants to choose between: Madera serving Mexican cuisine, Pizzeria Mozza (a UK outpost of the famous LA restaurant from Nancy Silverton) and The Nest for rooftop drinks. Madera (from the Los Angeles-based restaurant group) offers a modern, farm-to-table approach, with dishes (many of which are veggie or vegan) ranging from tequila tofu marinated in pesto to wild mushroom enchiladas and a street-food taco box with five house-made corn tortillas (beef or wild mushroom) served with salsa, lime, coriander and onion. Cocktails make the most of locally produced spirits (Chase gin) as well as more unusual flavours (activated charcoal agave and matcha agave) to create an intriguing drinks list. Return to Madera in the morning for a Mexican-inspired breakfast feast. Start with carne asda and eggs or go for something sweet with decadent Mexican fiesta waffles topped with ice cream, dulce de leche and chocolate. Where to eat and drink nearby Join the queue at Sabor for camarones fritos (tiny shrimp, deep-fried and served with a crispy, paprika-dusted fried egg), or tuck into top-notch carbonara, peppery cacio e pepe and homemade cannoli at Al Dente. Find more places to eat and drink near Oxford Street here. Doubles from £457, check availability at booking.com The Buxton, Shoreditch – for a Brick Lane boozer Doubles from £100, check availability at booking.com The Buxton is a former Brick Lane boozer turned polished pub-with-rooms, reimagined by the team behind Commercial Street’s The Culpeper. Bedrooms are on the small side, which is one reason for their affordable pricing. Clever design and attention to detail, however, ensures they don’t feel cramped. High ceilings and original features add space and character while whitewashed walls and smart navy accents lend a fresh and contemporary feel. The heart of the action occurs in the slickly refurbished Victorian pub, on the ground floor (there are bedrooms and a roof terrace above) which is now a reimagined bistro and wine bar. Tall, graceful arched windows introduce plenty of light, while a sweeping rosso levanto marble counter acts as a stylish focal point. Food has an emphasis on prime produce (including from The Culpeper Family Group’s own urban farm in Deptford) and seasonality, and will change weekly to use the best of what's available. Simple dishes combine British produce with French and Mediterranean influences, to build a carefully curated selection of small plates to share. Our spring visit included creamy shredded duck on toast, asparagus in a decadent brown butter sauce, and Denver steak with sticky, umami-rich glazed hen of the wood mushrooms. Don't miss the cheese croquettes to start: crisp on the inside and melting within. Head downstairs for breakfast after a night in the bar and you’ll find the space transformed, and surprisingly serene. Order the granola with house preserve or fill up with a hearty full English. Where to eat and drink nearby On bohemian Brick Lane, you’ll find no shortage of places to eat and drink; try the street’s many curry houses, 24-hour bagel shops (salt beef is a must) plus nearby restaurants such as Lahpet, Smokestak and Sichuan Folk. Good local bars include The Cocktail Trading Co. and Apples & Pears. Doubles from £100, check availability at booking.com The Pilgrm, Paddington – for a chic central stopover From £119 per night, check availability at booking.com A quirky, design-led, 73-bedroom hotel that’s brought a fine Victorian building in London’s Paddington back to life. Rooms are small so book the largest you can afford, and if you’re a light sleeper, ask for one away from the road. There are tiny (but very comfortable) bunk rooms, if you’re on a budget, or on a one-parent, one-child getaway. Decor is pared back and stylish, with slate-coloured walls contrasting with white sash windows and Egyptian linen-clad beds, and floors of reclaimed 200-year-old parquet giving a warm homely feel. Breakfast is the thing here, kicking off at 7am and continuing until 3pm in the vintage-chic first-floor lounge. There’s full-cooked Pilgrm (with house-baked beans) or a vegan version of smashed avocado, butternut squash hummus and a knock-out beetroot falafel. But the top seller is smashed avocado on toast with crumbled feta, which comes with the unexpected addition of a tomato and olive salsa. Where to eat and drink nearby Being in the heart of London, you’ve plenty of dinner choices nearby – from the cheap-and-cheerful Paramount Lebanese Kitchen, next door, to the Cleveland Arms around the corner, and Basque-styled Lurra and Donostia a short walk away. Read our guide to Paddington restaurants here From £119 per night, check availability at booking.com The Zetter Hotel, Clerkenwell – for panoramic city views From £256 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Victorian warehouse turned hip boutique hotel in Clerkenwell, The Zetter has 59 retro-styled rooms. Rooms have a sleek mid-century vibe, and an attention to detail that elevates the guest experience, from plush UK-made REN toiletries in the bathroom to a well-stocked honesty tray of food and drink, and a mini library of Penguin paperbacks. We suggest choosing one of the hotel’s seven rooftop bedrooms, each of which comes with a private terrace and panoramic views of the city. We stayed in one of the spacious and light-filled rooftop deluxe studios, which have funky geometric interiors, sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows and a freestanding rolltop bath on the terrace. Those into their drinks will also love the locally sourced minibar, which on our visit had bottles of East London Liquor Company rum, gin and vodka, Redchurch beer and JARR kombucha – all made in east London. Make yourself at home in the Lounge for cocktails and small plates – a cosy foodie bolthole to spend an evening. Where to eat and drink nearby It’s a 10-minute walk to Moro in Exmouth Market, for North African and Spanish-influenced tapas. From £256 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Four Seasons Park Lane, London – for a central London spa experience Doubles from £977, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Four Seasons Park Lane is a short walk from Hyde Park, the theatre district and a wealth of London attractions, but is situated on a serene street away from the hustle of the city. The hotel feels luxurious from the moment you’re ushered into the dramatic lobby, but the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. You’ll find sleek rooms with plush beds, decadent marbled bathrooms and plenty of added little luxuries from room sprays to a pillow menu, they take sleep very seriously here. Dining at the hotel’s Pavylon restaurant is an all-round immersive experience, request a counter seat and the theatre you’ll spectate will rival any of the West End shows. Headed up by multi Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, it took him less than a year to win a star for Pavyllon. Them menu focuses on French classics using the finest British ingredients, each dish is presented like a work of art but the balance of flavours is where the real power in his dishes is held. You can expect plates like monkfish tail seared with black pepper oil, succulent Lake District lamb cutlets and flambéed cherries with almond ice cream. Breakfast is served a la carte and includes British and French classics, the Parisian omelette with ham, Comté cheese sauce and parsley is perfection, you’ll find plenty of freshly squeezed juices, pastries and exceptionally good coffee on the menu too. Situated at the very top of the hotel (you’ll find dramatic city views from the changing rooms and gym), the sleek spa is home to a salt-wall sauna, eucalyptus steam room and huge vitality pool which is difficult to tear yourself away from. The treatment menu offers everything from personalised facials to immersive sound bath healing. Where to eat and drink nearby You're spoilt for choice with this location being a short walk from Oxford Street, Soho or Victoria in any direction. Visit Sketch for a memorable afternoon tea or enjoy quietly luxurious special occasion dining at Cornus in Eccleston Place. Doubles from £977, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk The Coach, Clerkenwell – for a Sunday roast and sleepover Doubles from £120, check rates and availability at booking.com Chef-restaurateur Henry Harris has transformed this popular independent pub in Clerkenwell into a well-executed French restaurant-with-rooms. Hidden down a quiet street in the heart of Clerkenwell, The Coach has been refurbished with the addition of four small, boutique-style rooms. The lively pub is child-friendly and serves a variety of beers, lagers and wines from local breweries as well as a selection of cocktails. For our aperitif we opted for a strong, citrussy negroni followed by a full-bodied, fruity red Château Laussac Cuvée La Dame. Visit on a Sunday for the classic Sunday roast – succulent 48-day aged Hereford sirloin of beef with punchy horseradish came with crispy duck-fat potatoes, sweet baby carrots and plenty of crunchy greens. Finish with a super-light blood orange posset with delicate lemon shortbreads and a verrine made with sought-after Gariguette strawberries, silky smooth crème pâtissière and chantilly cream. Upstairs, plenty of light floods into the compact rooms through double sash windows, framed by funky grey and yellow blinds. Modern art features on whitewashed walls and boutique hotel luxuries add a welcoming touch (Roberts radio, chrome light shades and Bramley hand soap). The bathrooms evoke the design of an old-school coach, while little white tiles add a retro twenties stamp. The bright, art-filled breakfast room overlooks a small terrace alive with greenery. Choose from a small menu – try bowls full to the brim with crunchy coconut and pecan granola or indulge in the full Coach breakfast of thick-cut bacon, crispy fried eggs, buttery mogettes (beans) and sourdough from Bread Ahead bakery. Where to eat and drink nearby Exmouth Market is on your doorstep, where you’ll find an array of independent shops, bars and restaurants, including Pizza Pilgrims, Morito and Berber & Q. Doubles from £120, check rates and availability at booking.com Bingham Riverhouse - for riverside views and chic interiors Perched along the Thames, this boutique bolthole is a dream for food lovers seeking a tranquil retreat with a touch of history. Housed in a chic Georgian townhouse with a fascinating literary past, the hotel is home to a sun-dappled terrace overlooking the stunning gardens and River Thames – as well as luxurious drawing room with a roaring fire place, perfect for afternoon tea or an expertly mixed cocktail. Breakfast is served in a cozy library lined with rows of vintage Penguin paperbacks, and includes a generous buffet as well as a menu with all of the classics. Beyond the hotel’s indulgent offerings, its location provides easy access to some of London’s most scenic attractions. A short stroll brings you to the vast greenery of Richmond Park, where wild deer roam freely, while the riverside towpath is ideal for leisurely walks or a sunset jog. After a day exploring local markets and gastropubs, unwind in one of the 14 beautifully designed rooms, each named after a poem by Michael Field. Expect mid-century elegance with thoughtful touches like Hebridean wool throws and artisan crystals. Opt for a river-facing room to enjoy stunning Thames views, along with a statement Catchpole & Rye copper bathtub—perfect for a post-dinner soak. Where to eat and drink nearby You are just a short walk along the river away from Petersham Nurseries cafe and restaurant. Rooms from £190 per night, check availability at binghamriverhouse.com or <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100565798-11795693?sid=olivemagazine-226739&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fgb%2Fthe-bingham.en-us.html%3Faid%3D811995%26label%3Daffnetcj-11795693_pub-5306979_site-100565798_pname-Immediate%2520Media_clkid-olivemagazine-147252_cjevent-28ed6645bb9211ee812000d80a18b8f8%26sid%3D1445e016f12e209a9562b523f90d2e21%26dist%3D0%26keep_landing%3D1%26sb_price_type%3Dtotal%26type%3Dtotal%26utm_campaign%3Dgb%26utm_medium%3Dbannerindex%26utm_source%3Daffnetcj%26utm_term%3Dindex-11795693%26" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">booking.com The Beaumont Hotel, Mayfair – for old school opulence Doubles from £648, check availability at thebeaumont.com or booking.com Old school opulence and faultless hospitality are the name of the game at The Beaumont. The polished walnut panelling, shiny marble floors and gilded edges set the scene as you walk into the Art Deco-style lobby. Suites are just as plush, with luxurious touches and 5-star attention to detail: Beaumont-stamped chocolate, sweets and snack jars all waited in our room, while sustainable toiletries were by heritage London perfumer D.R Harris. Rooms and suites are stylish, ultra-comfy and peaceful, cocooned from the busy Central London streets below. There’s even a room designed by artist Antony Gormley. The hotel’s Colony Grill is an elevated take on an NYC steakhouse, serving classics done with serious panache. Everything on the menu is that little bit extra: the tame-sounding shrimp cocktail arrives as grand whole prawns fanning from a stemmed bowl; the steak is salt-aged in-house and served with whipped bearnaise; you can build-your-own sundae using a fun tick sheet (we added a chestnut and rosemary ice cream to ours). Breakfast is served in The Colony Grill and is just as chic as dinner. We ate smoked salmon, scrambled egg and brioche with house-pressed pomegranate juice, but the made-to-order menu is huge and includes signature hashes, cold breakfasts, pancakes, French toast and eggs served every which way you can imagine. The Viennoiserie table included almond croissants, cinnamon rolls and pain au chocolat, all made in the Beaumont bakery. Service is impeccable. The peaceful basement spa at the Beaumont has a really fun USP – its range of hammam treatments. We experienced the Signature Hammam which involved an invigorating exfoliation using black olive savon noir scrub and an enriching rose & geranium clay. You can follow up with a massage treatment, or enjoy the facilities which include two steam rooms and one of London’s only cold water plunge pools. Where to eat and drink nearby If you can bring yourself to leave the Beaumont cocoon, the hustle and bustle of Mayfair and Oxford Street await. Tamarind Terrace offers all-weather Indian dining (don't miss the lamb chops with pistachio crust), or try Akira Back for playful riffs on Japanese cuisine. Doubles from £648, check availability at thebeaumont.com or booking.com The Boundary, Shoreditch – for a foodie weekend in Shoreditch Doubles from £173 per night, check availability at booking.com A trendy hotel, Boundary has 17 individually-designed bedrooms, a rooftop bar and an all-day bar and brasserie. Each bedroom is truly unique, taking inspiration from a particular designer or design movement. Take your pick from Mies van der Rohe, Charles & Ray Eames, Andrée Putman or Eileen Gray. Most share a restful, simple colour palette and a restrained but very carefully curated collection of furniture. The Sir David Tang Suite is an exception with its Chinese silk wallpaper and tassled green silk lampshades. Regardless of which room you stay in, a mid-afternoon delivery of freshly baked brownie is guaranteed. Dodge busy Shoreditch streets at the sky-high rooftop bar, where the view of London is uninterrupted and the cocktails are excellent. Try the Serendipity – a concoction of Monkey Shoulder whisky, Drambuie, mango purée, lime and chilli – and share plates of garlic tiger prawns and grilled lobster. Breakfast has a grown-up vibe but an on-trend menu, stretching to cold-pressed juices and ‘healthy’ cooked breakfasts. Baked goods are where it’s at, though, with a choice of cinnamon – or pistachio and white chocolate – swirls, croissants and Danish pastries. Where to eat and drink nearby BRAT, just a minutes’ walk away, is a Spanish-inspired spot that serves grilled sharing platters. Click here for more places to eat in Shoreditch. Doubles from £173 per night, check availability at booking.com Pan Pacific London, London – for an oasis of calm Doubles from £395 including spa access, check availability at panpacificlondon.com or booking.com Pan Pacific might be moments away from the bustling streets of Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, but inside it’s an oasis of calm. The hotel’s ethos is to bring a slice of the Singapore experience to London, and you’ll find that influence in everything from the Kopi Tiam afternoon tea to the vibrant hotel bar Ginger Lily, where the attentive staff will mix you up a signature Singaporean classic or a contemporary creation, depending on your own unique tastes. Breakfast is served in Straits Kitchen and you'll find an opulent buffet with a choice of Asian and English classics, from freshly made omelette to beautifully fragrant Won Ton noodle soups. All rooms feature king size beds, expansive marble bathrooms and luxury bathroom products, but the views across the city are what make this hotel standout, you can admire the glittering lights and striking contrast of old and new architecture from the comfort of your very own bed, it might be hard to leave. A night at Pan Pacific includes full use of the wellbeing floor. Start your morning with a luxurious swim in the balmy and impressively large infinity pool, floor to ceiling windows offer you far-reaching views over Bishopsgate Plaza as you practice your front crawl. There are plenty of sun loungers to recline on in the light-flooded relaxation area and a mindfulness studio where you’ll find yoga classes, meditation, pilates and gong therapy. The bougie experience continues in the changing rooms with Diptyque products and a smart sauna and steam room for the ultimate heat experience. There are a range of treatments on offer from a rhythmical bamboo massage to a lymphatic drainage massage. Where to eat and drink nearby Walk to Spitalfields Market for your choice of street food, or book a table at Kolamba East for modern Sri Lankan sharing dishes – the prawn string hopper biryani is worth a visit alone. Doubles from £395 including spa access, check availability at panpacificlondon.com or booking.com Kettner’s Townhouse, Soho – for the Champagne lifestyle Check rates and availability at sohohouse.com or mrandmrssmith.com Playing on its 1920s heyday, this Georgian building (brought up-to-date by the Soho House Group) is home to an all-day French brasserie, Champagne bar and 33 glamorous hotel rooms. Rooms vary dramatically in size. Compact Tiny rooms are fitted with Tudor-style beds and slick en-suites, while Cosy rooms are a bit larger with pretty green velvet scalloped headboards. If you want to wallow in a freestanding bath tub and super king-size bed, book one of the Medium or Big rooms (they have double sinks and walk-in rainforest showers, too). All rooms, no matter what size, cater to every whim, making for a luxurious stay. An almost overwhelming array of Cowshed bath and shower products await in the rainforest showers (cleansing toner and lip balm, as well as the usual staples). The all-day menu served in the brasserie sticks to classic French comfort food (steak tartare, roast chicken and Toulouse sausage). Try perfectly pink fillet of Lake District beef with fluffy chips and a creamy pepper sauce; or head to the Champagne bar for its take on a French 75, The Romilly, made from exotic Star of Bombay gin, mango cordial and sparkling Ruinart. The Kettner’s Fizz – refreshing clementine and grapefruit juice laced with Grand Marnier and Runiart rosé – is also a good shout. For breakfast, opt for a glass of fizz and a decadent lobster royale with hollandaise and Exmoor caviar in the Champagne bar, or keep it classic in the brasserie: blueberry muffins, or citrusy pink grapefruit served with thick sheep’s milk yogurt and a sprinkling of bee pollen and micro mint. Soho House has zingy breakfast drinks sorted, with its own pre-bottled house press juices. Where to eat and drink nearby Head to Yasmin on Warwick Street for rooftop dining with Middle Eastern flavour. Inspired by a stint in Istanbul, the menu majors on superior dips, flatbreads and zingy salads and grills. Read more about where to eat in Soho here. Check rates and availability at sohohouse.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Hoxton, High Holborn – for a hip hangout Doubles from £179 per night, check availability at booking.com The Hoxton is a cool, open-house hotel with 174 bedrooms, designed by local illustrators. Choose between four sizes, starting with Shoebox (the clue’s in the name), then Snug, Cosy and, the largest of the four, Roomy. Compact shoebox rooms still have queen-size beds and walk-in showers, while roomy ones are home to king-size beds and squidgy leather armchairs. With the exception of Shoebox, all are dog-friendly. If you fancy wine or beer in your room, head to the front desk where you can buy bottles at supermarket prices. A light breakfast bag can be delivered to your door, but for something more substantial head to Rondo for ’nduja scrambled eggs, or a Full English, served with Tamworth sausage & bacon, Fenton eggs, black pudding & beans. There are cold-pressed green juices to wake you up, or a selection of 100% vegan coffees, including matcha and raw cacao lattes. Where to eat and drink nearby A pie at the Holborn Dining Room is a must, whether it be filled with chicken, girolle and tarragon, or mutton curry. Try the contemporary afternoon tea at Rosewood’s Mirror Room, too. Doubles from £179 per night, check availability at booking.com Ham Yard Hotel, Soho – for a hidden design gem From £606 per night, check availability at booking.com An urban village, Ham Yard Hotel is home to 91 individually designed bedrooms and suites, 24 apartments, 13 independent stores and a restaurant. Kit Kemp designed the quintessentially British interiors, so that means colourful, patterned textiles and original artwork. Superior rooms have queen-size beds and a separate sitting area with writing desk, while the two-bedroom terrace suite on the hotel’s top floor has a kitchen. All bedrooms have views of the leafy terrace or city skyline. With its super central Soho location, there’s no shortage of restaurant, bars and cafés to explore in the area. But the hotel itself has its own restaurant and serves a selection of afternoon teas, including a ‘healthy’ reduced sugar option. A roof garden is home to raised herb and vegetable beds, so expect to see purple sage and orange marigold featuring on the menu. Two bee hives also live on the roof, the honey from which is used in cocktails. At breakfast, Antipodean-style eats and smoothies feature alongside lighter bites, including coconut chia seed pots with mango. Porridge is prepared with your choice of milk, water or cream, and is topped with berries, banana, mango, sugar, seeds or maple syrup. Where to eat and drink nearby Pop across the road to KILN for regional Thai dishes. Try aged lamb skewers, delicately fragrant with cumin and Szechuan pepper; or clay-pot baked glass noodles with Tamworth pork belly and brown crabmeat. Here are more places to eat and drink in Soho. From £606 per night, check availability at booking.com The Culpeper, Spitalfields – for campfires on the roof Doubles from £160 per night, check availability at booking.com The Culpeper is an east London pub with five bedrooms, a restaurant and rooftop garden. The ground floor pub takes classics up a notch: deep-fried black pudding balls, crispy ox tongue with tarragon mayo, and chicken liver on toast. The wine list is completely natural, local beers feature strongly, and all the cocktails are based on herbs that grow on the roof. The rooftop has a changing residency each summer, but in the past Piculpeper has set up camp with fire pits serving grilled broccoli, ash-roast potatoes and slow-roast camembert. On the first floor, a restaurant offers three starters, three mains and three desserts that change weekly. It also makes use of what’s grown in and around The Culpeper, including nettles, sprouting kale, baby gem lettuce and swiss chard on its menu. On the second floor, five bedrooms are in keeping with the rest of the pub, so expect plastered walls, bare brickwork, original fireplaces and simple-yet-colourful textiles. Where to eat and drink nearby Som Saa is less than a minute away, so head there for sticky Burmese-style curry, whole deep-fried sea bass and palm sugar ice cream. Doubles from £160 per night, check availability at booking.com The Orange, Belgravia – for a cosy pub with rooms Rooms start at £260 a night, check availability at booking.com or cubitthouse.co.uk If you want to stay in the beating heart of London, you won’t get much more central than buzzy Belgravia, and this refurbished pub is a chic base. The 19th century local is part of the Cubitts House group, who have given this glorious period building a whole new charm. The uber-stylish interiors have flashes of orange throughout, and the contemporary Italian-inspired menu is curated by Ben Tish. The Orange has just four rooms, giving it an extra-personal feel. They are decked in natural materials and finished with botanical flourishes. Downstairs in the bar, guests can soak up the buzz and order dinner off The Orange’s seasonal, à la carte menu. You’ll find a list of delicious-sounding pizzas with inventive toppings, like red prawns, rose harissa & crispy garlic. There’s a strong list of hearty, seasonal salads, which included braised kale and fried aubergine. Starters included panisse with bottarga. There are large plates too, including rib-eye with roasted onions & comte and roast chicken with grapes and rosemary. Guests enjoy breakfast as part of their stay, and while we loved the house granola with new season rhubarb, where The Orange really plays an ace is with their breakfast wood-fired flatbreads. Choose from toppings like fennel sausage & roasted tomatoes, stracciatella, mushroom & truffle cheese sauce. We already rated The Orange, but we have extra respect for anywhere that serves pizza before 10am. Where to eat and drink nearby For more dinner options, try Wildflowers. A stylish restaurant and wine bar, Mediterranean-inspired dishes are cooked over coal in an open kitchen, cocktails are imaginative twists on classics (try a melon negroni or almost-dirty martini) and its understated design encourages you to relax and linger over your food. Rooms start at £260 a night, check availability at booking.com or cubitthouse.co.uk Vintry and Mercer, City of London – for luxury in the City From £284 per night, check availability at booking.com One of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Vintry and Mercer is a 92-bedroom luxury hotel with a roof terrace restaurant, speakeasy-style bar and an all-day kitchen serving Asian plates. Rooms comes with elaborate velvet headboards and dramatically tiled bathrooms. The 'standard' room is anything but, with a queen-size bed, walk-in shower and heated floor, while the deluxe comes with a king-size bed, turndown service and wet room. Every bedroom nods to its city location, be it through needle-and-thread wallpaper that references the mercers who used to import fine silks just a stone’s throw from where the hotel now stands, or antique-style maps that depict old trade routes. Foodies stay here both for the delightful roof terrace restaurant, which focuses on farm-to-plate food cooked over charcoal; and DND (Do Not Disturb), a fun bar that pairs barrel-aged cocktails with sliders. There’s also Vintry Izakaya, which serves tapas-style dishes including tempura shiitake and tomato miso steamed buns. Along with the usual spirits, there’s also a selection of sakes and Asian-influences cocktails. Try the Takhiriti, made with Don Q rum, lemongrass syrup, kaffir lime and Thai basil. Where to eat and drink nearby Wander up to Brigadiers for an Indian feast of BBQ butter chicken wings, sikandari kid goat shoulder and on-tap cocktails. Read our full review here. From £284 per night, check availability at booking.com Green Rooms, Wood Green – for great-value rooms From £82 per night, check availability at booking.com A no-frills affordable hotel, Green Rooms has stylishly simple bedrooms. There are 22 bedrooms (everything from three-quarter to king-size beds, some with shared bathrooms, others en-suite), two en-suite studio apartments and two dormitories (one sleeps 12, one sleeps 16 people) make for an eclectic mix of accommodation. It’s a back-to-basics vibe, but with added style. Mattresses are good quality, furnishings are sparse but pretty (a few rooms have chairs and textiles by fashion brand Folk, but most have simple white bed linen and vintage wooden furniture), and frills extend only to a few coat hangers, a travel kettle, a small range of London Tea Company teas and Climpson and Sons coffee. Where to eat and drink nearby In Turkish-influenced Wood Green, you don’t have to go more than 30 paces to find grilled halloumi and spinach omelettes. Try Antepliler for pides, spiced lentil koftes and pistachio kanafeh. From £82 per night, check availability at booking.com Kaya Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross – for swanky fine dining From £215 per night, check availability at booking.com A luxury, boutique hotel just 25 metres from King’s Cross station, comfort and class is the focus at Kaya Great Northern Hotel, with each bedroom sporting sash windows and high ceilings. Couchette is the cosiest, with queen-size beds tucked into leather-clad banquettes, while the Edwardian bedrooms on the top floor have walnut wood panelling and vintage-style bathrooms. Victorian is the largest, with views of King’s Cross and a roll top bath. On the first floor, RAILS Restaurant and Little Bar offers a smart take on British and French classics. Where to eat and drink nearby There’s no shortage of options in Coal Drops Yard, including wine bars and funky sandwich joints. Try smoky rotisserie chicken and mezcal negronis at alfresco Mexican restaurant, Plaza Pastor. See our picks of the best restaurants in Kings Cross here. From £215 per night, check availability at booking.com The London Edition, West End – for striking interiors From £420 per night, check availability at booking.com A slick hotel in the heart of Fitzrovia with 173 bedrooms and a sophisticated restaurant, Berners Tavern. The in-house restaurant is under the direction of Michelin-starred chef, Jason Atherton. A striking dining room (ornate ceilings, plush leather booths and antique artwork in lavish gold frames) sets a grand tone, while the trendy-yet-accessible food is the kind you could eat every day: pork pie and aged beef tartare, BBQ pork chops, and mac ‘n’ cheese. Try a roast at the weekend, including beef wellington and Dingley Dell pork belly. There are two bars to choose from: The Lobby comes kitted out with a snooker table and tufted sofas, while The Punch Room is an intimate space inspired by 19th-century private clubs. The signature gin-infused EDITION house punch is a must. Stylish and simple rooms are inspired by luxury yachts with oak floors, walnut wooden panels and tufted armchairs. There are four bedroom sizes (guest, superior, deluxe and loft) as well as two suites, the loft and the penthouse. All bedrooms come with the same features (king-size beds, rainforest showers, iPod docking stations and custom made Le Labo bathroom products). Suites come with a large living area, while the penthouse has a dining area, pantry, walk-in wardrobe and three outdoor terraces with city views. At breakfast, hearty classics are the order of the day, be it a slow-cooked smoked ham hock croque monsieur with aged cheddar, or oak smoked Scottish salmon with scrambled eggs. If you’re after something lighter, dairy-free mango smoothies and ginger, turmeric and orange shots are also on offer. Where to eat and drink nearby Book a table at Rovi, Ottolenghi’s restaurant with vegetables, fermentation and fire at its heart. Read all the best restaurants in Fitzrovia here. From £420 per night, check availability at booking.com The Athenaeum, Mayfair – for a luxurious Mayfair stay From £366 per night, check availability at booking.com The Athenaeum is a luxury yet family-friendly Mayfair hotel with bedrooms, suites, apartments and townhouses. Spacious bedrooms include Hypnos mattresses, London-inspired artwork and your choice of pillow. Marble bathrooms come with heated towel rails and non-steam mirrors. Serviced apartments are ideal for those with children, with separate front doors leading onto a double bedroom (with extra bunk or sofa beds for little ones), living area and fully fitted kitchenette. If you want to stay in the main hotel, interconnecting bedrooms are also available. Choose between a continental buffet for breakfast (yogurt, fruit, charcuterie, cheese and baked goods) or opt for a full English, omelettes or smoked salmon. There’s a separate menu for children, including waffles with fruit compote or boiled eggs with toast soldiers. Where to eat and drink nearby Mayfair has plenty of excellent dining choices to offer: from contemporary steak and sushi at Nijū to pub classics at The Guinea Grill or elegant Italian at Angela Hartnett's Murano. For more dining in the area, check out our favourite places to eat in Mayfair here. From £366 per night, check availability at booking.com The Bull and The Hide, Bishopsgate – for cosy pub vibes From £155 per night, check availability at booking.com A pub with 10 boutique bedrooms in the heart of the city. Rooms are neat and simply decorated. Each is named after the pub’s colourful past, from the Oxford (the 17th Earl of Oxford lived on the site in the 16th century) to the Devonshire suite, which echoes the name of a grand house that stood on the site in 1625. If you want a room with a view, book the Hush Heath suite for its own private balcony. All come equipped with Miller Harris toiletries, goose down pillows and a 24-hour pantry, where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, cookies and sweets. The Bull pub downstairs (part of the Hush Heath Estate) serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, bar snacks and dinner. Classics include scotch eggs with curried mayo, half-pint shrimps and whitebait with tartare sauce. Flatbreads are also a focus, so try the pulled pork, BBQ sauce and jalapeño one. The sparkling wines come from the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, and the crisp sparkling apple is recommended. The Bull breakfast is a simple affair. Choose a full English, American pancakes with bacon, avocado on toast or granola. Where to eat and drink nearby If you're not eating in the pub, head to Duck & Waffle for views over the city or Spitalfields Market for plenty of street food options, from freshly pulled noodles to the gooiest cheese toasties. From £155 per night, check availability at booking.com Claridge’s, Mayfair – for classic elegance From £930 per night, check availability at booking.com The iconic Claridge's is a glamorous art deco Mayfair hotel with restaurants, bars and a reading room. Bedrooms and suites are either traditional or art deco, but both come with Bose speakers, fresh flowers and mini bars stocked with British produce. En-suite marble bathrooms include Cowshed products (made exclusively for Claridge’s), and the Claridge’s King room comes with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and views of the peaceful inner court. The Mayfair Suite has a separate sitting room with original fireplace, and the Brook Penthouse, a two-bedroom apartment with living room, dining area, private bar and a terrace with views of the Houses of Parliament, is luxury at its finest. For foodies, the Foyer and Reading Room serve an all-day dining menu, from roast rack of Kent lamb to its signature lobster wellington. Afternoon tea has been a ritual here for almost 150 years, and this luxurious redoubt for the rich and royal (no flip-flops, no intrusive photography) has turned it into an art form. Eat English cucumber and dill cream sandwiches, fluffy raisin scones with Cornish clotted cream, and caramelised hazelnut Paris-Brest. Breakfast is a lavish affair. There’s English, European, Japanese, vegan and Middle Eastern options, to name a few. Try pork gyoza, prawn dim sum, chicken congee, Chinese pickles and century duck egg for a Chinese feast, or keep it healthy with chia seed pudding and carrot juice. The Claridge’s bakery makes daily Danish pastries, croissants, muffins and brioche, and pancakes are served with berries and Valrhona chocolate. Where to eat and drink nearby Wander down Regent Street for a Spanish feast at Sabor. Eat crisp, golden prawn croquettes and mussels ‘a la Bilbaina’. Read more about Sabor here From £930 per night, check availability at booking.com The Ritz, Piccadilly – for old-school luxury Doubles from £900 per night, check availability at booking.com The Ritz offers old-school luxury in the heart of Piccadilly, with a restaurant to match. Opulent yet traditional, there’s a twee feel to the bedrooms with plenty of floral patterns and pastel furnishings. Living areas come with antique furniture, and en-suite bathrooms are adorned with marble. Deluxe suites come with up to five bedrooms and spacious sitting rooms, but, if it’s views you’re after, book the Green Park Suite, which looks out over its namesake. Afternoon tea is the main draw, taken in the elegant Palm Court. Indulge in Scottish smoked salmon on springy sourdough bread, warm scones and delicate blackcurrant macarons. Choose from an 18-strong tea menu that has been curated and exclusively blended by The Ritz’s tea sommelier, Giandomenico Scanu. The Michelin-starred restaurant cooks seasonal British produce. Try Dover sole with new season leeks, cauliflower and caviar, or native lobster with heritage carrot and lemon verbena. Don’t leave without trying the crêpes suzette, prepared, cooked and served at your table with real flair. For breakfast, whether you fancy sirloin steak with fried eggs or an omelette with caviar, The Ritz has you covered. A continental breakfast keeps things light with fruit, homemade yogurt, cheese, ham and cereal, while three punchy juices are sure to wake you up. Our favourite is the Ruby Ritz: carrot, beetroot, fennel, ginger and lime. Where to eat and drink nearby World-famous for its seafood and shellfish, Bentley’s is the place to go for oysters. Click here for more places to eat in Mayfair. Doubles from £900 per night, check availability at booking.com Shangri-La At The Shard, London Bridge – for striking views Doubles from £553, check availability at booking.com Shangri-La At The Shard is a central London hotel with 202 bedrooms, striking views and an infinity sky pool. The hotel includes a restaurant, afternoon tea lounge and two bars. On level 35, TING serves a modern British menu with Asian influences, making the most of produce from neighbouring Borough Market. The five-course tasting menu offers the likes of duck liver ballotine with forced rhubarb and green tea, and Eton mess with cardamom. Climb 12 levels higher for GONG bar (the highest hotel bar in Europe) and its quirky cocktails. The cognac and sherry-based Over the Rainbow comes in a decorative hot air balloon, while the Scan Me whisky sour is delivered in a sleek black glass. Every bedroom and suite comes with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame London’s skyline; the iconic City View room, for example, looks out over Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. A pillow menu is available, along with binoculars (to get a closer look at the landmarks), feather duvets, L'Occitane bath products and a Chinese tea set. The suites offer a separate living and working space, with views spanning across Surrey and Sussex, and the Shangri-La suite is the grandest of them all – dressing room, kitchenette, cocktail-making services, an iPad and local area guide included. At breakfast, choose between an English, Middle Eastern or Asian breakfast, the latter of which comes with congee, dim sum and wok fried noodles. Or try something from the wellness menu: bircher muesli and green smoothies packed with kiwi, spinach, ginger, mint and apple juice. Where to eat and drink nearby Pop to the market for plates of pici cacio e pepe and beef shin ragu at Padella. Click here for our London Bridge restaurant guide. Doubles from £553, check availability at booking.com Sea Containers London, Southbank – for a room above the best bar in the world Check rates and availability at booking.com Sea Containers is a modern hotel on the river with bedrooms designed by Tom Dixon and a cocktail bar from master mixologist, Mr Lyan. Choose between bedrooms, suites and apartments. Tones of grey and pops of pink are the signature colours, with chrome furnishings lending a sleek feel. Queen-size beds come as standard in the boutique rooms, and marble bathrooms are stocked with natural Malin + Goetz products. Wall-to-wall windows in the Riverview Deluxe room offer views of the city, while the Riverview Suite includes a separate living area and extra bathroom. The world’s number one bar, Dandelyan used to have its home at Sea Containers, but Mr Lyan closed that down and re-opened it as Lyaness. The sweeping green marble bar occupies the ground floor of the hotel, with soft-grey sofas and electric-blue banquettes. Try the tiki-inspired Double Painkiller, with bright tropical notes and a subtle smokiness. An all-day restaurant serves plates designed to share, from whole seabass with lemon to shaved mushrooms with manchego and brown butter. If you’re there over the weekend, try the eggy sammy from the brunch menu for breakfast – a brioche bun stacked with fried egg, crispy bacon, jack cheese and avocado – or go for a spicy chorizo flatbread with olives and wild rocket. In the week, expect a full English, fruit and yogurt, or avocado on toast. Where to eat and drink nearby Skylon is an 11-minute walk away on the first floor of the Royal Festival Hall. It’s all about seasonal modern British food and great views of the Thames. Check rates and availability at booking.com The Standard, King's Cross Doubles from £199, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com There’s nothing standard about The Standard. Minutes from St Pancras International, London’s rail-based gateway to Europe, the cool kids behind America’s Standard Hotel group opened their first UK outpost, converting a 1970s concrete block into a hip eating and drinking destination, with more than 200 groovy retro-kitsch bedrooms on site. It may be the priciest room (with the exception of the suites), but book a King’s Terrace room and you’ll be rewarded with a large terrace complete with an outdoor bath that overlooks the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and its terracotta-coloured clock tower. There are no ‘standard’ rooms at The Standard – the most basic options still boast bathrobes, bespoke Davines toiletries and Bang & Olufsen speakers. The building’s geometric shape adds character to outer-ring rooms (internal Cosy Cores don’t have windows, but they do have shower rooms strung with ferns), with squishy sofas in retro colours tucked beneath aquarium-like curved windows. Wallace Sewell, TFL’s fabric designers, have created the bedspreads and carpets, with the nostalgic red, purple and blue palette reminding guests how in-the-thick-of-it they are. Retro-chic design continues in the bathrooms, where pale pink and black tiles cover monsoon shower walls, and mint green taps add a pop of colour. Foodies are well catered for with a selection of options. On the ground floor, Isla’s vibrant space, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto a plant-filled terrace, is home to light British plates with a generous plant-based section. There's also Sweeties cocktail bar, Decimo for Mexican-Spanish cuisine with dramatic skyline views, or the Double Standard Bar serving American-inspired brunch or burgers and hot dogs in the evening. Make the most of humongous beds and order breakfast delivered to your room. Avocado on toast pepped-up with chimichurri, perhaps, or a batch of brown butter madeleines with Square Mile coffee. Where to eat and drink nearby The Standard is a one-minute walk (if that) from St Pancras International, so it’s well-placed if you want to kick off a trip to Amsterdam, Paris or the south of France in style. Doubles from £199, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com More hotel guides Best country house hotels in the UK Best health and wellness retreats Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels
Want to know where to go for the best sirloin, the juiciest ribeye and top quality wagyu? Read on for our picks of the best steak restaurants in London.
Want to know where to go for the best sirloin, the juiciest ribeye and top quality wagyu? Read on for our picks of the best steak restaurants in London. From old-school steakhouses to Argentinian classics and modern Japanese grilling, foodies are spoilt for choice with options for the next meat-feast. For more like this, check out our reviews of the best brunch in London, the best outdoor restaurants in London or the best London pubs for food lovers. Best places to eat steak in London Cooper's Cut at Four Seasons Hotel Tower Bridge Set inside the grand former Port of London Authority building, Cooper’s Cut takes its name from Sir Edwin Cooper, the British architect who designed the building in 1922. His work combined scale with detail and the restaurant follows his inspiration: majestic surroundings and cooking that is impressively precise. The centrepiece is Australian executive chef Luke Armstrong’s pride and joy: Japanese hokkaido A4 wagyu fillet. The steak arrives with a golden crust and a deeply succulent interior that all but dissolves as you eat. A quenelle of Kristal caviar and a Pomerol sauce push the classic surf and turf idea somewhere more polished. The wagyu is the star of a succinct, refined lunch that works as a guided tour of what the restaurant does best. We began with an amuse-bouche of Belted Galloway beef tartare and smoked scallop, followed by heritage beetroot with dijon mustard, crème fraîche and merlot vinegar: a bright plate that set the tone. Next came chargrilled Scottish langoustines with saffron and citrus beurre blanc, sweet and lightly smoky from the grill. Dessert was a neat finish: granny smith apple tarte tatin with crème fraîche ice cream. There are plenty of other steaks on the main menu – Angus côte de boeuf and blue grey chateaubriand from the Lake District among them – but the wagyu is the dish that made our eyelashes flutter. cooperscutlondon.com instagram.com/cooperscut MR PORTER, Park Lane Bone-in fillet isn’t a cut you see often, trimmed and portioned as the steak usually is into neat medallions. But MR PORTER (the Amsterdam steakhouse downstairs at the Hilton Park Lane) makes the bone a virtue, and that small decision changes the experience. The 450g cut arrives thick and imposing, pink at the centre, the bone lending extra depth to a piece of meat prized for tenderness though not necessarily flavour. MR PORTER took over the former Trader Vic’s space and replaced tiki theatrics with low lighting, deep booths and a central bar that draws a well-dressed crowd. Arrive early to eat, stay late to enjoy the vibes from the resident DJ. A cocktail is essential. We enjoyed the yuzu martini, a sharp foil for the richness of the food. The fillet is one star among many on the meat-led menu, including a mighty tomahawk, a mega 1.2kg Mr Porter and A5 Japanese wagyu. But other dishes have wow factor. Jumbo prawn salad is the most popular, and dover sole meunière was deliciously delicate with brown butter and lemon for contrast. The must-order side dish is the crunchy onion loaf – stacked, crisp, built for pulling apart and sweeping through basil mayo. For dessert, popcorn crème brûlée was a crunchy, creamy revelation, balancing caramelised sugar with sweetcorn custard and a gentle jalapeño warmth. olive tip: to start, head straight for the carpaccio section. Charred mushrooms came wafer thin and lightly dressed; courgette arrived with a shower of Swiss belper knolle cheese, adding salinity and bite. mrportersteakhouse.com Ibai, Smithfield Ibai is a steak restaurant that starts well before the grill. The duo behind it, Nemanja Borjanović and William Sheard, own Mr Txuleta, the wholesale butcher that supplies the restaurant, controlling the beef from farm to table. That means choosing breeds, working directly with farmers, selecting cattle pre-slaughter and ageing the meat on its own terms. Ibai is known for its Galician Blond – including the first UK herds, in Wales and Bedfordshire – but there’s also a focus on rare native breeds and older animals. It’s beef with a backstory, and it tastes like it. The room matches the ambition. High ceilings, polished stone and firelight frame the open grill, giving the place a sense of occasion without stiffness. We began lightly. Cantabrian anchovies slicked with arbequina olive oil slip down in seconds, before moving on to house favourite Croque Ibai, a gloriously indulgent sandwich of carabinero prawn, boudin noir and Tomme de Brebis, crisped and molten, both salty and sweet. But the pull is the open grill. Ask to be shown the board, heaving with slabs of sirloin and rib, cut thick before being cooked over embers. We went for Galician Blond, a six-year-old animal, its meat aged for 51 days: deeply flavoured, with a savoury sweetness, buttery textured but with a satisfying drool-inducing chew – a true connoisseur’s steak. Beef-fat fries and braised leeks with mustard played their roles, anchovy and herb salsa added sharpness to cut through the rich meat. Dessert kept faith with the Basque thread. The pain perdu – crisp, rum-scented – was reason enough to stay. olive tip: Hand yourself over to sommelier Hugh to steer you through an ever-changing by-the-glass list – from classic European benchmarks to more left-field bottles. ibai.london Vivat Bacchus, Farringdon Ever tried a zebra stokkie? In Afrikaans it means ‘little stick’, a type of biltong, the air-dried cured meat that’s a South African classic. Zebra, along with beef, is part of the theatre of the biltong trolley at Farringdon steakhouse Vivat Bacchus, rolled to your table and sliced to order. It’s powerful with spices and vinegar, chewy and deeply satisfying. The trolley is the star starter, a tongue-tingling warm-up for the main attraction, the heritage braai selection. The equivalent of a UK barbecue, braai is more than a cooking method – it’s an event for bringing people together over food. The braai here offers a well-balanced spread of meats cooked over flame, designed for two to share. Juicy sirloin, meltingly soft cola-cooked pork belly, peppery boerewors (sausages) and ostrich fillet. If you’re not familiar with steaks from the big bird, think venison – incredibly lean and mildly gamey. Pot-baked mealie bread, fiery chakalaka relish and sweet-spicy monkey gland sauce are the go-to accompaniments, along with “flippen lekker” (very tasty) chips. As you’d expect, South African wines dominate the list, so ask your sommelier to match a glass with each dish. Finish with peppermint tart, a creamy dessert like a tiramisu. vivatbacchus.co.uk The Guinea Grill, Mayfair At one of Mayfair’s most characterful pub-restaurants, the meaty mains beg to be experienced, so we plumped for beef, Guinness and oyster Pie (to share) to kick off proceedings (though the devilled kidneys on toast, and seared scallops on the table next to us, looked very appetising). Topped with a crispy oyster and melted cheese, it set the tone for the next grand entrance – a magnificent côte de boeuf, presented at the table before being flamed on the grill and served with brandy peppercorn sauce, crispy layered pancetta confit potatoes and parmesan-creamed sweetcorn. For pudding, the crème brûlée crackled satisfyingly under the spoon, while the bread and butter pudding was surprisingly light and fluffy. Olive tip: If you’re visiting in the evening, try to skip lunch to take full advantage of the meaty fare. As well as starters, salads and mains, add-ons include lamb cutlet, calf's liver, lamb kidneys, black pudding and haggis. theguinea.co.uk Goodman, Mayfair At Goodman, the cut is everything. Each day begins in the basement ageing room where chefs inspect racks of prime beef, selecting the finest cuts to feature on The Cut specials board – a roll call of sirloin, ribeye, T-bone and fillet, sourced from the UK, USA, Australia and beyond. The star is a 75-day-aged Angus Pure Breed from the Lake District: deep, gamey and minerally, with intense beefiness. Diners get to choose not only the cut but the size of their steak – whether you’re in the mood for a modest 250g or a mighty kilo. Each one is cooked to your liking over red-hot 400C coals that leave a toffee-like crust and juicy centre. The Mayfair dining room, opened in 2008 (the first of three), hums with a clubby but not stuffy confidence – all dark leather, low lighting and cosy corners. Along one wall, regulars' engraved steak knives sit in a glass-fronted cabinet like prized trophies. Starters include crispy, fist-sized prawn tempura, and sweet and briny crab on warm brioche toast. From the side, truffled mac and cheese is luxurious, spinach sings with garlic, Josper-roasted onions are sticky and dark, and triple-cooked chips are made to dredge through the creamy béarnaise. Get to know the sommelier – they’ll match your palate and your steak, possibly with a lush American pinot noir or a more classic French Bordeaux. goodmanrestaurants.com Dorian, Notting Hill Relaxed and friendly, Dorian has polish but no pretence. Smart enough for a birthday, casual enough for a Tuesday night, it proudly boasts of its place in the heart of the neighbourhood. But for all its clubbable vibe, what makes it a destination is the steak. Aged for 60 days on-site, Dorian offers three cuts, cooked with mesmeric care over wood fire: sirloin on the bone, rib-eye on the bone and the grand T-bone. Each arrives richly barked, exteriors crisped and as smoky as embers, interiors blushing and butter soft. It’s dramatic, theatrical cooking – made to share, made to marvel at. But this isn’t a one-dish restaurant. Rostis are fried to a deep gold and topped with crab and broad bean, or langoustine and pea. Or, if you’re feeling especially decadent, caviar. For starters, a plate of white asparagus is a snappable delight, tempura St George’s mushrooms deliver umami nuggets, and the succulent ibérico pork is complemented by noisily crunchy strips of deep-fried pig’s ear. Triple-cooked Pink Fir potatoes deserve their own accolade, shrapnel skins, fluffy flesh, built for scooping up whatever’s left on your plate. Desserts are great – go for salted milk flan with a scoop of coffee and dark chocolate sorbet. But, really, you’re here for the incredible steak. dorianrestaurant.com Cut at 45 Park Lane, Mayfair As you would expect, Cut at 45 Park Lane – culinary heavyweight Wolfgang Puck’s fine dining steakhouse – wants you to experience the best cuts from the world’s best steaks. To make the most of an experience in this sleek, polished dining room, choose The Taste of Cut: a trio of British grass-fed sirloin, Australian wagyu and Japanese A5 wagyu, each carefully cooked and clearly distinct. The sirloin is bold and beefy; the Australian richly marbled; while the A5, almost white with silky fat, barely needs a knife. It’s an impressive way to understand what top-grade beef really tastes like. Wolfgang may be best known for revolutionising Californian fine dining with Spago and feeding the stars at the Oscars, but at Cut you feel that steak is his passion. Head chef Ibrahim cooks over open flames, resting and flaming to deliver smoky perfection, perfectly paired with dry Italian red wine barbaresco. Small bites include miso cones of spicy tuna tartare, bite-sized, meltingly soft wagyu sliders, and sweet and fluffy crab and lobster rolls. If you have room for dessert, share a burnt Basque cheesecake with Hugh Lowe Farm strawberries, the freshness of the fruit a perfect foil for the delicately creamy pudding. dorchestercollection.com Macellaio RC, various locations The tagline of this collection of six Italian restaurants is ‘the butcher’s theatre’. Genoan restaurateur Roberto Costa’s original South Kensington branch is a homely ‘butcher with tables’, while the glamorous Soho outpost focuses on the theatre butchery. Executive chef Lello Favuzzi’s menu starts with lardo that melts onto sourdough with honey and hazelnuts, smoked, aged tuna bresaola with heirloom tomatoes and Tropea onions, and the signature steak tartare. The latter is excitingly prepared tableside on a smart wooden trolley – bowls of chopped Fassona steak, capers, onions, gherkins and anchovies are mixed with cognac, Worcestershire sauce and mustard, with an egg yolk balanced on top. The main event is the grill. House-butchered T-bones, ribeyes and sirloins are dry-aged for seven to nine weeks, and there’s a choice between grass-fed British, lean Fassona from Piedmont and a Bavarian breed that boasts intensely flavoured fat. Pair with a Seven Hills negroni, a bottle from the exceptional Italian wine list and finish with a tiramisu, built at the table, or homemade hazelnut gelato. macellaiorc.com Zoilo, Marylebone This intimate bistro has been serving regional Argentinian classics for over a decade. The upstairs dining room is a cocoon of elegance – exposed brick and wood panelled walls strung with black and white photographs of life in Buenos Aires, flickering tea lights on white tablecloths, deep red leather banquettes and chequered flooring, with a heavy velvet curtain wrapped around the door to keep out the cold. A wooden bar is generously stocked with aperitifs and spirits to make cocktails while impressive vintages line shelves behind. Chef Patron Diego Jacquet returns to Argentina two to three times a year to source the 250-strong list of wines including Mendoza's prestigious Malbec regions UCO Valley and Vista Flores. Kick things off with house-cured salami, flaky, beef-filled empanadas, provoleta (a semi-hard cheese similar to Italian provolone) melted and topped with almonds and honey, and sea bream ceviche doused in green oil, chia seeds and pickled kohlrabi. Grass-fed, pampas-reared Argentinian steak is the main event, from juicy ‘bife ancho’ rib-eye served with lively tomato and parsley salsa criolla to perfectly pink ‘asado’ flank and Brazilian style picanha cooked sous vide. Order extra-crunchy hand cut Provençal chips and seasonal sides that might include opulent cauliflower cheese layered with peanut butter. To finish, silky smooth crème brûlée is topped with dulce de leche swirled banana ice cream and petits fours include squares of dulce de leche fudge. zoilo.co.uk Flat Iron, Southbank Who can argue with Flat Iron’s motto, “Great steak for everyone”, when £15 is all it costs for a beautifully cooked flat iron steak. It’s no surprise that the crowd spans everyone from young professionals to parents with toddlers in tow. This is the 18th Flat Iron, set just behind the Royal Festival Hall and overlooking Southbank Market Square. Inside, a smart central bar divides a bright, lively front space from a cosier dining room at the back. There’s also a sunny terrace, perfect for relaxed lunches and summer evenings. The signature flat iron steak is the headline act: British-reared beef, expertly seared to a rosy blush and served simply with beef dripping chips, silky creamed spinach and an outrageously indulgent crispy bone marrow mash. Blackboard specials like wagyu keep regulars coming back, while a short, well-curated list of wines, beers and classic cocktails rounds out the offering. Flat Iron skips a formal dessert menu, instead handing out complimentary salted caramel soft serve in a crunchy cone – a small detail that’s part of the charm. Unfussy, reliable and brilliantly executed, Flat Iron really does make great steak democratic. flatironsteak.co.uk Hawksmoor, various locations There are multiple branches of Hawksmoor to choose from across London. The Wood Wharf branch combines its signature British steakhouse flair with a unique waterside location. Situated on a floating pavilion, this restaurant offers stunning views of the City alongside its renowned menu of perfectly cooked steaks, fresh seafood, and hearty sides. The outdoor terrace is ideal for sipping on classic cocktails while enjoying the serene waterfront atmosphere. Hawksmoor’s dedication to quality and sustainability ensures a memorable dining experience. thehawksmoor.com/locations/wood-wharf/ NIJŪ, Mayfair Experience wagyu and kobe beef grilled to perfection at Japanese restaurant NIJŪ in Mayfair. Endo Kazutoshi, arguably London’s most esteemed sushi master, is behind this new Mayfair grill, with exec chef Chris Golding overseeing the menu day to day. Careful sourcing, luxe ingredients and well-honed kitchen skills create a unique menu inspired by ‘Katei Ryōri’: homecooked, seasonal dishes, some – like dover sole, asparagus and nori butter – served tableside. Wagyu, that most highly-prized beef, is sourced from Japan and England, cooked simply over Japanese charcoal and offered with fresh wasabi and yuzu salsa verde. Beyond the steak offerings, sashimi includes indulgent cuts like otoro (fatty tuna) served classic style or with a contemporary NIJŪ twist – ‘aburi’ (seared) with caviar. Vegetables are treated with equal care, from grilled aubergine with white sesame dressing to spicy spinach with sobacha (buckwheat tea). A sushi counter and glass panel revealing all the kitchen action add to the buzzy atmosphere. The basement Nipperkin bar uses British ingredients, some grown and distilled on site in its hyper-seasonal cocktail list. nijulondon.com Blacklock, various across London While Blacklock’s famous ‘All In’ – a pile-up of seared pork, lamb and beef chops served atop charcoal-grilled flatbread – remains a carnivore’s rite of passage, another must-order is the magnificent beef prime rib chop (choose the size to suit you). Charred and glossy, blushing pink within, it’s a true showstopper, elevated to even greater heights of umami meatiness with house gravy. It’s a dish that feels perfectly in keeping with the dark wood and exposed brick of Blacklock’s Shoreditch branch, tucked inside a Victorian warehouse, buzzing with office workers. Begin with bite-size canapés then choose succulent pig’s head on toast, lifted by sweet, pickled chilli slices. Sides compete for stardom: 10-hour ash-roasted sweet potato, smoky and creamy; sharp kale with parmesan; loudly crunchy beef dripping chips; and silky bone marrow. Try your luck and ask for the secret pie: only 20 are baked each day and they’re not listed on the menu – a celebration of Blacklock’s nose-to-tail philosophy made with handpicked cuts, slow-cooked in Cornish stout and wrapped in thyme-topped shortcrust pastry. To finish, white chocolate cheesecake is like no other you’ve had before, served at your table in great scoops for everyone to grab a spoon and dive into. theblacklock.com Solis, Battersea Solis is the personal product of Ana Gonçalves’ (along with husband Zijun Meng, who together are behind cult favourites TĀ TĀ Eatery and Tou) desire to showcase food from her childhood and challenge the conventional expectations of the steak night. With bold flavour influences from Spain, Portugal, Uruguay and Argentina, Solis is looking to break the mould without breaking the bank. Located right in the heart of Battersea Power Station’s multi-billion-pound restoration and redevelopment, it offers an accessible menu headlined by its signature grilled spatchcock chicken and flat-iron steak, both served with salad, fries and a big side of South American vibrancy. arcadefoodhall.com/solis Fazenda, Shoreditch This might just be the ultimate sharing extravaganza for steak lovers. Fazenda’s Churrasco Experience brings the theatre of the traditional gaucho grill to your table, offering a limitless selection (you can eat as much as you like) of 15 grilled meats, carved from giant skewers by expert passadores. Highlights include picanha (beef rump), sirloin, ribeye, pork belly and fillet, all cooked to medium-rare perfection. This premium south Brazilian restaurant spans two floors in the sleek 100 Bishopsgate Tower and boasts three private dining rooms, an elegant mezzanine lounge and the standalone Fino bar. Start your experience with the Market Table’s fresh salads and sides or opt for Brazilian small plates, such as seafood moqueca (a tomato and coconut stew) or yellowfin tuna with beef cream emulsion. For something extra special, Fazenda’s ‘Share an indulgent cut’ menu features sharing dishes like roasted bone marrow with chimichurri, a one-kilo tomahawk steak dry-aged for 21 days, grilled giant king prawns and a 500g grade 9 wagyu sirloin. To drink, Fazenda specialises in Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean and Uruguayan wines, as well as innovative cocktails from South America. If you still have room, try dulce de leche filled churros or crème caramel layered with chantilly cream and madeira cake. fazenda.co.uk/location/bishopsgate Heliot Steak House, Covent Garden Heliot Steak House, right at the heart of Leicester Square’s famous Hippodrome Casino, overlooking the Grand Casino, has recently been given a refurb. It majors in elevated American cuisine, with buttery prime USDA steaks the stars of the show. Everything here is about the drama, from plumptious prawns presented with billowing clouds of dry ice, to perfectly grilled steaks, sliced at the table and served with oozy mac ‘n’ cheese (with a rarebit-style topping), creamy spinach and rosemary-salted fries. There’s a choice of 120 wines (choose Ramnista Xinomavro, a velvety red from Greece, a perfect partner for red meat). There are also fish, lamb, chicken and pasta dishes, and some vegetarian options. And if you do get lucky on the tables, you might want to splash out on a luxurious Japanese wagyu sirloin. hippodromecasino.com/restaurant-bars-lounges/ The Butcher’s Tap and Grill, Chelsea A meat chamber filled with labelled cuts is the first sign that this is no ordinary boozer. The London outpost of Tom Kerridge’s pub joins the Marlow original in offering superior steaks and sauces: prime bone in ribeye with jalapeño mayo and truffle fries enjoyed in a leather booth feels right in this smart neighbourhood just three minutes from Sloane Square and shopper’s paradise King’s Road. True to its pub roots there are chops, burgers, kebabs and hot dogs, real ales and beer on tap, and sport on the TV screens. Tom has a knack for making everyone welcome, from locals popping by to collect a Friday night takeaway to destination diners and football fans catching the match over a pint or two. thebutcherstapandgrill.co.uk/chelsea Daffodil Mulligan, Shoreditch Chef Richard Corrigan’s partnership with fellow Irishmen John Nugent and Tony Gibney is an unapologetic tribute to Irish craic. The industrial Shoreditch space is modestly decorated with moody portraits of Irish legends – Sinéad O’Connor guides you down the stairs to the basement drinking den; while upstairs is where you’ll find the main restaurant, open kitchen, complete with a wood oven and grill, and oyster bar. Let chef be your guide with six sharing courses and a Gibney’s stout, or work your way around the snacks, small plates, oysters and grill. On the grill, you'll find a selection of steaks using award-winning Shorthorn beef sourced from across Ireland and dry aged in Himalayan salt bricks for 28 days. As well as classic sirloin, flat-iron or cote de boeuf from the grill, the wood oven offers more for meat-lovers from a forerib of beef & bone marrow cheeseburger (served in a beef fat brioche bun) to sugar pit pork and wood-fired whole roast chicken. Many ingredients are sourced from Richard’s own estate in Ireland, Virginia Park Lodge – including smoky, wood-roasted carrots that punch way above their weight. Biscuity champagne and a light, very gluggable muscadet are winners on the wine list – but drinks nerds should explore the cocktails with infused spirits, from jalapeño-infused tequila in a blood orange margarita to chilli Aperol with mezcal, chocolate and orange bitters. daffodilmulligan.com Lurra, Marylebone Tucked away on Marylebone’s pretty (and seriously foodie) Seymour Place, Lurra is a contemporary, sophisticated Basque-inspired restaurant. It’s sister to Donostia, just across the road. There’s more to this trendy joint than its good looks though: ingredients are key. With a meat import business (think 14-year-old Galician Blond, 67-day hung beef) supplying the likes of Kitty Fisher’s and Chiltern Firehouse, and a cellar downstairs housing top Spanish wines (including an incredible Louro from Valdeorras), owners Nemanja and Melody know their stuff. lurra.co.uk The Colony Grill Room, Mayfair With its vintage styling, large booths and striking murals, the Colony pays homage to classic New York grill restaurants. Dishes finished tableside are a big part of chef Ben Boeynaems’ menu, including dover sole meunière with miso butter, theatrically deboned before guests. The sharing wood-grilled tomahawk steak (bone-in ribeye) is a similarly dramatic presentation, carved as it’s served at the table. Deft knife skills maximise the cut’s juiciness. colonygrillroom.com Gaucho, Piccadilly Step through the doors of Gaucho Piccadilly and you step into the original. The flagship that launched a now 20-strong group, this is where the magic started. Dark walls and flickering candlelight – the décor remains familiar just like the head chef Mario, who’s been grilling here for 25 years. That longevity brings serious consistency. Argentinian beef is sourced from farms committed to regenerative practices. The signature cut, churrasco, is a must: spiralled lomo (fillet), chorizo (sirloin), ancho (ribeye) or rump (cuadril), marinated in parsley, lemon, garlic and olive oil, and grilled to perfection. There are elegant starters – crispy prawn chicharrón with sweet-spicy aji amarillo and lime-bright crab tostada – but you’re here for steak and a serious glass of something red. Ask the sommelier for a pairing from the knockout New World wine list, and trust the superb waiting staff – they’re as much part of the institution as the steak. Once the haunt of power lunchers, today it’s shoppers and tourists looking for post West End indulgence. And they find it – topped off with a rich dulce de leche cheesecake crowned with chantilly, hazelnuts and cherries. gauchorestaurants.com STK Steakhouse, The Strand If you like your steak with a side of glamour, STK on The Strand delivers it in style. A buzzing, clubby vibe, a menu built around premium cuts and a sleek central bar make this one of London’s go-to spots for a steak night with extra sparkle. The space feels part steakhouse, part cocktail lounge – dark, dramatic lighting, plush leather booths and a live DJ most evenings. It's a popular choice for celebrations, stylish dinners and anyone looking to combine a serious steak with a lively night out. On the menu, prime cuts of USDA beef can be finished with a range of toppings and crusts, including truffle butter, crab and parmesan, blue cheese and chimichurri. If you’re feeling especially hungry go for the 900g tomahawk, a magnificent cut that’s made for sharing. But steak isn’t the only indulgence: mini wagyu burgers are a luxurious take on a crowd-pleaser, while Mermaid Surf & Turf pairs perfectly cooked steak with seafood. There’s plenty for lighter appetites, too — tuna tartare, roasted halibut and a punchy caesar salad ensure no one’s left behind. The drinks list leans heavily on signature cocktails alongside a robust wine selection. Room for dessert? Share a crunchy apple crumble topped with a scoop of creamy ice cream. stksteakhouse.com Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Islington Best restaurants in Chelsea Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
This pretty print is taking over our kitchens this spring – here is what you need to buy
The dainty checks of a gingham print are a timeless classic – and it is making a return to our kitchen shelves this season
Bringing a fresh, spring-ready feel to everyday cooking and dining, pastel-hued gingham is popping up everywhere. From checkerboard to patterned table linens and kitchen storage, this cheerful trend taps into nostalgia while still feeling modern. We’re channelling the aesthetics of vintage picnic blankets, retro diners and sunlit kitchens filled with candy-coloured tableware. Whether you're hosting brunch with friends or simply refreshing your kitchen accessories for the new season, here are some of our favourite pieces for embracing the gingham trend in your home. Jump to: Why is gingham kitchenware trending? How do you style gingham kitchenware? Is gingham suitable for modern kitchens? What are the easiest ways to add in pastel kitchenware? Anthropologie handpainted plaid stoneware dinner plate Available from Anthropologie (£22) Anthropologie is known for colourful tableware and this handpainted plaid plate fits perfectly into the pastel kitchenware trend. Made from durable stoneware, the plate features a softly brushed plaid pattern that feels relaxed rather than overly uniform, giving it that slightly handmade look that works beautifully for casual dining. The pastel colour palette makes it a lovely choice for spring tablescaping – perfect for serving pastries at brunch, a slice of cake in the afternoon or a colourful salad at lunch. It also pairs well with plain white crockery if you prefer a more understated setting. Available from: Anthropologie (£22) Rockett St George checkerboard storage tins Available from Next (£60) If you love a kitchen that feels full of personality, these checkerboard storage tins from Rockett St George are a fun way to introduce the trend. The graphic check pattern taps into the retro aesthetic that’s currently everywhere in interiors, and the pink and orange colourway gives the classic print a modern twist. The set includes three tins in different sizes, making them ideal for storing tea, coffee, sugar or baking ingredients. They look particularly striking styled together on open shelving where the bold pattern can really stand out. Available from: Next (£60) Dunelm check chopping board Available from Dunelm (£10) Even the most practical kitchen tools can join in with the gingham trend. This colourful chopping board from Dunelm features a check design that adds a decorative element to your worktop while still being functional. Made from recycled plastic, it’s lightweight yet durable enough for everyday food prep. The generous size makes it perfect for chopping vegetables, slicing bread or preparing ingredients for dinner, and the bold check pattern means it can double up as a casual serving board for cheese or snacks. Available from: Dunelm (£10) Oliver Bonas pink gingham ceramic plant pot Available from Oliver Bonas (£37.50) Bring the gingham trend beyond tableware with this charming ceramic plant pot from Oliver Bonas. The pink checked design adds a soft decorative touch that works beautifully on kitchen windowsills or open shelving. Fill it with fresh herbs such as basil or parsley for a practical addition to your kitchen that you’ll reach for every time you cook. Available from: Oliver Bonas (£37.50) Addison Ross sage gingham square pillar salt or pepper mill Available from Addison Ross (£58) Addison Ross is known for beautifully designed home accessories and this gingham salt or pepper mill is a charming example. We love the soft sage green shade (but there are a range of gingham colourways to choose from, plus even a couple of tartan options), while the classic gingham pattern adds a twist to a traditional table staple. Its square pillar shape gives it a slightly sculptural feel, making it a stylish addition to both your dining table and kitchen worktop. Check out our full tried-and-tested review of the best pepper grinders for more. Available from: Addison Ross (£58) La Redoute Intérieurs Kael checked earthenware jug Available from La Redoute (£37.99) A stylish jug is a versatile kitchen essential, and this checked earthenware design from La Redoute brings a relaxed rustic feel to the table. The soft check pattern keeps it in line with the gingham trend while still feeling timeless. Use it for serving water, juice or homemade lemonade, or style it as a vase for fresh flowers or herbs picked from the garden. Available from: La Redoute (£37.99) MeanWhile gingham check mug in ginger Available from Lisa Angel (£13) This gingham mug from MeanWhile combines a classic check pattern with a warm orange and red tones. The design has a nostalgic 1970s feel, reminiscent of retro kitchenware and vintage picnic fabrics. Perfect for tea, coffee or hot chocolate, it’s the sort of mug that instantly brightens your morning routine and looks especially lovely paired with pastel plates and table linens. Available from: Lisa Angel (£13) Piglet in Bed berry gingham linen blend tablecloth Available from Piglet in Bed (from £89) A tablecloth is the easiest way to elevate your tablescape if you’re entertaining. This berry-toned option from Piglet in Bed is made from a soft linen blend that drapes beautifully across the table while still maintaining a relaxed, casual feel. Perfect for weekend brunch, spring lunches or relaxed dinners with friends. Available from: Piglet in Bed (from £89) Anthropologie Brynn gingham placemat Available from Anthropologie (£16) If you want to gently introduce the trend without committing to a full tablecloth, gingham placemats are an easy option. The Brynn placemat from Anthropologie comes in four pastel shades so you can mix and match a selection or commit to one look – we love the sweet bow detailing on each corner as well. Available from: Anthropologie (£16) Dunelm set of two checkerboard tea towels Available from Dunelm (£6) Tea towels are one of the easiest ways to bring colour and pattern into your kitchen and refresh your space as the seasons change. This set from Dunelm features a cheerful checkerboard design that feels bright and modern. Practical for drying dishes or lining bread baskets, they also look great simply draped over the oven handle for a quick kitchen refresh. Available from: Dunelm (£6) Cox & Cox Cotton gingham runner Available from Cox & Cox (£25) For a more subtle take on the trend, this gingham table runner from Cox & Cox offers a softer colour palette while still embracing the classic check pattern. Made from cotton, it runs neatly along the centre of the table and works beautifully layered over wooden surfaces, creating a relaxed yet elegant dining setup. Available from: Cox & Cox (£25) &Klevering plaid butter dish Available from Not Another Bill (£35) Small details can make a big difference in a kitchen, and this butter dish from &Klevering adds a pop of colour to your countertop or breakfast table. The plaid pattern gives it a cheerful look while the stoneware design keeps it practical for everyday use. It’s perfect for keeping butter fresh while adding a decorative touch to your morning breakfast routine. Available from: Not Another Bill (£35) Oliver Bonas pizza club chequerboard oven gloves Available from Oliver Bonas (£22.50) Your next pizza night just got a makeover with these playful Oliver Bonas oven gloves. The bold orange and white checked print makes a change from the pale pastel shades often found in gingham kitchenware. The graphic pattern gives them a fun retro feel while the padded cotton construction means that they’re practical for handling hot trays and dishes. There is a matching apron and tea towel in the range too, if you want to really commit to the theme... Available from: Oliver Bonas (£22.50) The Best Room stoneware gingham mug Available from Not On The High Street (£17.95) This stoneware mug from The Best Room combines a sturdy feel with a simple gingham pattern that captures the cosy charm of the trend. Its classic design makes it ideal for everyday use, whether you're starting the day with coffee or winding down with tea in the evening. The subtle check pattern pairs easily with other pastel kitchenware, making it a versatile addition to your mug collection. Available from: Not On The High Street (£17.95) Why is gingham kitchenware trending? Gingham and checkerboard prints are having a resurgence in interiors thanks to their nostalgic, retro feel. The pattern is strongly associated with picnic blankets for relaxed summer feasting, vintage tablecloths (think retro 50s designs) and classic country kitchens, making it a natural fit for relaxed, welcoming kitchen spaces. Designers and homeware brands are reinterpreting gingham in fresh colourways, from soft sage green and berry tones to fresh pink and orange combinations. How do you style gingham kitchenware? The easiest way to style gingham kitchenware is to mix it with simple, neutral pieces. Pair checked plates or mugs with plain white crockery to keep the look balanced. Gingham also works well layered with natural textures such as linen tablecloths, wooden serving boards and ceramic jugs. For a more playful look, combine different pastel shades or mix gingham with subtle stripes. Is gingham suitable for modern kitchens? Yes. While gingham has traditional roots, many modern homeware brands are reinterpreting the pattern in contemporary colour palettes and materials. Subtle gingham pieces like placemats, mugs or table runners can add character to a modern kitchen without making the space feel overly rustic. Choosing gingham items in modern colourways instead of soft pastels also updates the trend – think clashing pink and red together, or the bold orange and white oven gloves above. What are the easiest ways to add in pastel kitchenware? If you want to try the trend without replacing larger items in your kitchen, start with smaller accessories such as: mugs or plates tea towels salt and pepper mills table linens storage tins These pieces are affordable, easy to swap seasonally and can quickly bring colour and pattern into the kitchen.
10 foraging dos and don’ts for safe and edible treasures
Brush up on your knowledge of urban foraging before you venture this spring with expert Barney Desmazery's practical checklist
With spring's arrival, nature’s larder begins to bloom with edible plant treasures, which often grow wild in the churchyards, parks and towpaths that wind through our cities. Urban foraging offers the chance to connect with wild food, discover new flavours and enjoy the outdoors. However, it’s vital to approach foraging with care, respect and responsibility. By following these dos and don’ts, you can enjoy your finds while protecting yourself and ensuring your foraging is safe, legal and sustainable. Discover more re-energising activities in our 30 easy ways to bring the joy this spring campaign, including expert health tips, morning rituals and seasonal dinners. For recipe inspiration, check out our best wild garlic recipes, mushroom recipes or elderflower recipes. Foraging dos Do your research before you start Before heading out, research what you can and cannot forage thoroughly. Use trusted books or reputable websites to help you identify what is available and, even then, never eat anything you’re not totally sure of. Do go foraging with someone experienced If you’re new to foraging, head out with someone who knows what they’re picking or sign up for a tutored day out. Their experience can help you avoid dangerous mistakes and teach you how to forage responsibly. Do seek permission from landowners Always ensure you have the landowner’s permission before foraging, especially in parks or areas that are not public land. Don’t assume all public spaces are fair game. Respect private property and local regulations. Do only pick what you need Take a modest amount and leave plenty behind for nature and other foragers. Nature depends on these plants more than we do, so leave the plants to regenerate. Do use the right equipment Take a sturdy pair of scissors and a reusable bag for collecting. For certain plants, such as nettles or brambles, wear gardening gloves to protect yourself from stings and scratches. Do leave roots intact Snip leaves and stems but never uproot. Always leave the roots so the plants can regrow. Do double-check your harvest Even if you’re confident in your identification, inspect your collection carefully before using it and remove anything you’re unsure about. With wild garlic, for example, you need to make sure that you haven’t accidentally also picked up other plants with it too, such as toxic dog mercury or cuckoo-pint. If you were to blitz them into a wild garlic pesto, it could make you really ill. Do be aware of plant lookalikes Some edible plants closely resemble toxic species, especially before they flower. Always check for key identifiers to avoid dangerous mistakes. The three-cornered leek, for example, smells mildly of garlic if you snap it open, but looks very similar to a bluebell that hasn't flowered yet, however a bluebell is, in fact, poisonous. The deadly plant hemlock looks very similar to edible plants like cow parsley which both grow in abundance near each other, so really be careful. Avoid built-up areas Plants that grow where there is heavy traffic, are low down where dogs have access to relieving themselves, or are on industrial waste areas, are probably best avoided. Do be mindful of toxic sap Another potential risk to be aware of is the toxic sap from a plant dripping onto an edible part of that same plant. Do enjoy the experience Foraging is as much about the pleasure of finding and identifying wild food as it is about eating it. Take photos or simply savour the moment if you don’t plan on cooking your finds. Foraging don’ts Don’t eat anything you’re unsure about Never eat a foraged plant unless you are absolutely certain of its identity and safety. If in doubt, leave it out. Many wild plants are poisonous and can cause serious harm. Never take risks with identification. Don’t dig up wild plants Digging up wild plants is illegal even if the desired part of the plant is the root, like with pig nuts or alexanders, as this would prevent them from coming back the following year. Don’t pick protected species Some plants, like primrose, are illegal to pick due to their declining numbers. Learn which species are protected and avoid disturbing them. Don’t strip one area bare Avoid foraging completely from the same spot and stripping one patch. Spread your picking across different patches to help plants continue to thrive and to maintain the ecosystem. Don’t ignore the ecosystem Every plant has a role in its environment. Nettles might be seen as a pest, but bees need them for pollination. If it's not an invasive plant, it's there for a reason and it serves a purpose in our ecosystem. Don’t treat foraging as a free-for-all Foraging is not about gathering as much as possible. It’s about connecting with nature, learning and enjoying the process in a sustainable way.
10 UK hotels with beautiful gardens to book this spring
These hotels help you make the most of the outdoors, with expansive kitchen gardens, wildflower meadows or acres of woodland
As the countryside bursts into bloom, hotels across the UK are perfectly placed to make the most of it, whether they are grand estates set in rolling hills or boutique retreats with the prettiest of kitchen gardens to explore. For more UK hotel inspiration, check out our picks of the best country house hotels and the best spa hotels in the UK. 10 UK hotels with beautiful gardens to book this spring The Bath Priory, Bath In a leafy part of Bath sits this impressive Georgian house, offering old-fashioned hospitality with wide appeal. Behind the ivy-clad building is a vast, not-so-secret garden, featuring a spectacular Lebanon cedar tree, croquet lawn, sunken pool and kitchen garden growing herbs, edible flowers, fruit and veg destined for the dining room. Spring is when the wisteria-covered terrace shines, the perfect spot for taking afternoon tea. You can also order a picnic hamper to enjoy in the gardens, with a bottle of English sparkling wine. You'll have views of the garden at dinner too. Chef Jauca Catalin’s imaginative menu celebrates seasonal, local produce with some surprising Asian touches: a crab starter is teamed with lime confit, mooli and chilli peanut caramel; wild turbot is a complex dish of scallop mousse, caviar and miso and kombu tea. At breakfast there is a traditional approach, with eggs royale, benedict and florentine, alongside the full English and a fluffy omelette Arnold Bennett. Bedrooms are designed for comfort and relaxation, with period furniture, florals and tartan adding warmth to neutral décor. Rooms start at £275 per night including breakfast, based on two sharing. Check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk The Samling, Lake District The Samling is a luxurious country house hotel (think al fresco hot tubs, fine dining and ornamental water gardens) set in nearly 70 acres of woodland, gardens and fields, perfect for exploring at this time of year. It sits right on the banks of Lake Windermere. Most of the rooms overlook the lake (two have woodland and garden views instead), and all are decorated in plush neutrals, with sash windows, marble bathrooms and goose down pillows and duvets. For an extravagant stay, pick the Windermere suite: it’s at the very top of the estate and benefits from a private patio (with astonishing views) and a copper-clad freestanding bath. You're spoilt for choice with gardens to explore here, from the pretty cascading ornamental water gardens woven with paths and bridges to walking trails through the woodland carpeted with wildflowers in spring. The kitchen garden, surrounded by apple and nut orchards, is also well worth exploring. Cucamelons and microgreens grow in the central greenhouse, and meadows buzz with bees (their honey is used to sweeten desserts and cocktails). At the restaurant, with stunning lake views, executive head chef Robby Jenks is in charge of a modern menu that includes the likes of shellfish raviolo with citrus bisque, turbot with mussels and samphire, and rhubarb with vanilla, ginger and lemon. The breakfast menu is short, but includes kedgeree, homemade granola with yogurt, and fresh fruit. Doubles from £290 per night, check availability at booking.com The Pig in the Cotswolds, Cotswolds The Pig in the Cotswolds embodies everything you’d want in a spring countryside escape. Set in a stunning 17th-century Grade II listed manor, the hotel is surrounded by gardens designed by Rosemary Verey, providing a serene and picturesque setting and unexpected sights to discover, such as a Tuscan temple that makes the perfect sunny spot to pause. The kitchen garden is the heart of each Pig – wander to explore for yourself, or join a daily guided tour. From the moment you step inside, you’re welcomed by a cosy and luxurious atmosphere, with each room meticulously restored to retain its historical charm while offering modern comforts. In the bedrooms you’ll find plush bedding, standalone baths, Nespresso machines and The Pig's signature rustic-chic décor. The hotel’s Fieldhouse Spa complete with garden terrace takes relaxation to another level, with soothing treatments, a sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy plunge pool for unwinding amid nature and views over the countryside. The Pig's renowned '25-mile' menu is worth the visit alone. Standout dinner dishes include the Barnsley lamb chop, accompanied by produce straight from the garden, and the fillet of plaice with garden fennel and white wine sauce. Breakfast is equally delightful, with options ranging from smashed peas and poached eggs on sourdough toast to smoked trout royale. You’ll also find beautifully baked pastries, homemade granola and freshly squeezed juice. Prices per night start from £195. Check availability on mrandmrssmith.com Glenapp Castle, Ayrshire As well as ivy-clad turrets and excellent food, there’s one thing Glenapp Castle has plenty of: fresh air. It sits in 36 acres of grounds, detailed for guests in a beautifully illustrated map. You'll find plenty of woodland, plus herb, fruit and flower gardens, a 150 foot Victorian glasshouse and a croquet lawn, all surrounded by more open Scottish countryside to explore. You can also book onto more adventurous outdoor experiences such as foraging, mountain biking or canoeing on the loch. Despite the grand exterior (it was originally built in 1870 as an imposing family residence for James Hunter, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire), there’s no intimidating reception hall at the castle, just a welcoming parlour with neat piles of wellies for guests to borrow, panelled wash rooms and chesterfield sofas. Up a carpeted staircase is the drawing room, with stone fireplace and ceiling-high windows that frame a spectacular view of Ailsa Craig (you’ll find granite curling stones from the island propping doors open around the castle). Guest rooms, especially the master suites, are spectacular, with chandeliers, four-poster beds, huge windows framed by thick drapes and, in one case, a curved corner door that leads to a private spiral staircase... follow it down to reach a wooden hatch that opens onto the castle’s forecourt (imagine the trysts!). So big are the suites that guests also enjoy their own walk-in wardrobes, and there’s enough seating for at least a dozen people. Doubles from £395, check availability at booking.com or glenappcastle.com The Victoria, Norfolk Countryside meets coast at The Victoria, perched on the edge of the grand Holkham Estate and a short stroll from the vast beauty of Holkham beach. You can explore the grounds on bike or foot, meet the resident deer, row a boat on the lake or take a guided tour of the hall. The Holkham Stories experience explains the estate’s history, current sustainable practices and its plans to be carbon neutral. The magnificent walled garden grows everything from grapes – which go to make wine at Burn Valley Vineyard – to herbs, fruit and veg, which are featured in dishes at the hotel. Here, the menu references its support for suppliers throughout the region, from Arthur Howell butchers, Billy Ward’s lobster and Malt Coast Brewery in Wells-next-the-Sea to Fakenham’s Krusty Loaf bakery and Brancaster Bay shellfish. The dining room, with its forest-themed wallpaper, is a fitting setting for hearty dishes like Holkham venison curry and roasted pigeon with parmentier potatoes. Rooms are traditionally decorated, with classic striped fabrics, wooden dressing tables and chests of drawers, and Norfolk Natural Living toiletries. Doubles from £200. Check availability at booking.com or holkham.co.uk Grace & Savour, Birmingham Be fully immersed in a spring garden at Grace & Savour, a restaurant with rooms built into the walled garden within the grounds of contemporary hotel Hampton Manor. The sustainability-first operation has its own kitchen garden, with a tour offered on arrival. The handful of rooms have a pared-back Scandi sensibility and enticing views of chefs prepping dinner in the restaurant’s open kitchen. The industrial-style steel-framed panelled windows, and corrugated tables and headboards are softened by muted tones of clay and earth to give each bedroom a soothing feel. A huge bathtub and a generous bowl of bath salts demands to be used, and walk-in showers feature Birmingham-based Harvest Skincare. Dinner is a tasting menu of up to 14 well-balanced courses that reflect chef-director David Taylor’s commitment to seasonality, regenerative farming and animal welfare, all as beautiful as they are delicious. Chatting with the chefs from your counter seat or when they deliver dishes to the table is part of the fun, as is the wine pairing which focuses on lesser-known wines, many made in small batches. In the morning, breakfast overlooking the garden is three relaxed courses with juices and coffee: charcuterie, cheese and apples; yogurt and honey; sausage, spinach cooked in chicken fat and mustard, and a wonderful cinnamon bun. From £350 for dinner, bed and breakfast; hamptonmanor.com/grace-savour The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath Few visitors to Bath see beyond the façade of the magnificent Royal Crescent, the city’s most impressive landmark. Fewer guess that No 16 extends into beautiful hotel gardens with a lavender path, a haven for birds and butterflies where afternoon tea, cocktails and light lunches are taken. Chef Martin Blake balances simplicity with on-trend touches. The evening tasting menu at restaurant Montagu’s Mews starts with tiny canapés of Bath Blue cheese and avocado mousse with cucumber and borage. Then shokupan, a soft Japanese-style milk bread, with Ivy's Reserve butter from Somerset and smoked roe studded with salmon ikura. Hollandaise for beef tartare is spiked with Bath Ale and IP8 beer vinegar. A forced rhubarb dessert is softened with olive oil and vanilla. The comprehensive wine list includes confident choices such as a barrel-aged assyrtiko. The hotel’s five-star spa includes a heated pool with sauna and steam room, tranquil treatment rooms and another small garden where you can relax after a swim, still in your robe if you like. Rooms are built for comfort and luxury, some with terraces and views on to the gardens or over the sweeping lawns of the crescent. Fireplaces in bedrooms may be filled with decorative pinecones, modern art sits alongside vintage portraits and busts, and everywhere the outside is brought in with plants and floral displays. Rooms from £300 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Rudding Park, North Yorkshire This 2,000-acre Georgian country estate just outside Harrogate is a lesson in country luxury with a contemporary edge. 300 acres of landscaped gardens and woodlands make relaxing walking routes (private guided tours are also available to book), with views over the golf course all the way to the Kilburn White Horse in the North Yorkshire Moors. The expansive kitchen garden grows over 500 different herbs, salad, fruit and flowers and is open from May for guests to explore. As the first rooftop spa to open in the UK, the garden spa also makes the most of nature and its outdoor setting, being designed to evolve with the seasons. In spring you'll look out over magnolia in full bloom. Take a leisurely circuit, alternating between hot and cold experiences such as an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms and a panoramic sauna. Inside the hotel, stone fireplaces and staircases contrast with pops of colour including pink chandeliers, striking sculptures and modern art. This playful design extends to the 89 rooms, split between the original Ribston wing (eight rooms of which have terraces that back onto rhododendrons) and the newer Follifoot wing, its larger rooms boasting standalone baths in copper-tiled bathrooms. Breakfast is taken in all-day restaurant Clocktower, with dishes such as harissa mushrooms on toast and the Full Yorkshire, as well as a modest cold buffet. We recommend finding a spot on the south-facing terrace or beside the 400-year-old olive tree in the conservatory. The hotel’s kitchen garden-led restaurant, Horto, offers sharing plates such as crisp tempura broccoli, honey roast fig and walnut flatbreads, toasted focaccia club sandwiches and tandoori monkfish kebabs. Rooms from £249 per night. Check availability at ruddingpark.co.uk or booking.com Cliveden House, Berkshire Nothing says English garden quite like a National Trust property. There is plenty to explore over 80 acres at Cliveden, from the formal rose garden and water garden to the impressive maze and plenty of woodland perfect for sunny spring walks. Inside the grand Cliveden House itself, you'll step back in time. Mahogany panelling is studded with oil paintings of former residents, including Frederick, Prince of Wales (mid-1700s) and socialite Nancy Astor (circa 1908). Cliveden was also the location of the chance meeting in 1961 between Secretary of State for War John Profumo and 19-year-old dancer Christine Keeler that began the Profumo affair. The ‘Profumo pool’ and hot tubs are cloistered by the old stables, which now house the indoor spa facilities (pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room) in neoclassical style, complete with wafting voile curtains. We’re shown to the Prince of Wales suite, boasting three fireplaces and sweeping views of formal gardens and the Thames cleaving through forested hills. It comes with access to the Butler’s Pantry for complimentary drinks and snacks. Make time for afternoon tea and sit in the windows with impressive views over the rolling gardens down to the river. After cocktails in the library, dinner echoes Cliveden’s initial use as a hunting lodge, with a silky venison tartare among the raw starters, then a surprisingly dainty slow-cooked guinea fowl. Desserts are generally rich with cream, but the lime macaron with lemon sorbet delivers a clean finish. Cooked breakfast is served in the same formal dining room but do venture next door, where the continental is beautifully presented in baroque surroundings. Rooms from £445 per night including spa access. Check availability at clivedenhouse.co.uk or booking.com Fowlescombe Farm, Devon Tucked in the foothills of Dartmoor, Fowlescombe Farm is a quietly luxurious rural retreat where regenerative organic farming and contemporary comfort meet with a fork-to-table food ethos. A weekly calendar of activities can be dipped into that will help you make the most of the beautiful surroundings. Go on a guided garden walk or farm tour to immerse yourself in the rhythms of the estate. Guided yoga in the garden and sea swimming with a post-dip croissant and flask of tea left us grounded. Daily menus are shaped by the land and seasons. The Refectory’s kitchen table seats 10 with a view of the chef at work. Expect dishes such as silky courgette and apple velouté, sirloin of shorthorn beef with tomato confit, and strawberry parfait with elderflower. Garden-to-glass gin and cocktail pairings add to the sense of place here. Dating back to 1537, the estate’s original Victorian farmhouse and timeworn stone barns have been thoughtfully restored, with just 10 suites spread across four distinct buildings. The Meadow Suite is a standout room, offering uninterrupted views over wildflower fields and woodland from its living room and vast bathroom. At breakfast, graze on the elegant buffet of granola parfaits, pastries, smoked salmon and charcuterie before ordering a Full Fowlescombe: hash browns, sausages, black pudding, homemade smoky beans and eggs to your liking, alongside green juice of the day and excellent coffee. Rooms from £375 per night, check availability at fowlescombe.com or mrandmrsssmith.com More hotel reviews Best country house hotels in the UK Best health and wellness retreats Best hotels in London Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels Best Scottish hotels
Vagus nervous? The expert lowdown on vagus nerve stimulation and how to make it work for you
Find out more about this trending topic and why it does really matter
For more information about stress and to find out whether forest bathing could help; how your gut health is involved; and the foods that might help, turn to our wellbeing section. Chances are you’ve come across the vagus nerve recently. Maybe in breathwork class, a therapy session, or while doomscrolling at night wondering why you can’t switch off. It's become one of those terms that gets dropped into wellness conversation with increasing confidence: activate your vagus nerve, reset your nervous system, improve your vagal tone. But for all the buzz, most of us are a bit hazy on what it actually is, let alone whether stimulating it makes any real difference. Here's the thing: unlike a lot of wellness trends, the vagus nerve is genuinely fascinating and the science behind it is real. It's just that not everything sold in its name is. What is the vagus nerve? The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body, running from the brainstem all the way down through the neck, chest and abdomen, weaving connections between your brain, lungs and gut. “It helps regulate heart rate, digestion and stress response,” says Shelly Dar, BACP-registered psychotherapist. “When we talk about activating it, we’re really talking about improving vagal tone, the body’s ability to return to calm after stress. In practice, this is less about hacks and more about teaching the body signals of safety.” Think of your vagal tone as the fitness level of your vagal pathways. It’s something that can be measured indirectly through something called heart rate variability (HRV), the slight variation in time between your heartbeats. Higher HRV is generally associated with better stress resilience, emotional regulation and cardiovascular health. Lower HRV has been linked with anxiety, burnout and poor recovery. Here’s where it gets interesting for women specifically. Oestrogen supports vagal tone and HRV, which means hormonal shifts across perimenopause and menopause can have a direct physiological effect on stress resilience. “A woman who coped reasonably well at 35 may find her stress resilience noticeably wearing thinner by 45,” explains energy and performance coach Joanne Pagett. “This isn’t because she’s becoming less capable, but because the physiological scaffolding has genuinely changed.” Should you try vagus nerve stimulation? So why is vagus nerve stimulation suddenly everywhere? The short answer: a combination of legitimate science, savvy marketing and a post-pandemic hunger for tools that help us feel a little less frazzled. Research into vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been building for decades in clinical medicine, for example implanted VNS devices have been approved for drug-resistant epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression since the 1990s. But the recent explosion of interest has been driven by a newer wave of non-invasive approaches, from breathing exercises to ear-clip electric devices, all promises similar benefits without the surgery. The trouble is, the evidence base for these consumer approaches is considerably thinner, and more complicated, than the wellness industry tends to acknowledge. 6 methods for stimulating your vagus nerve There are a spectrum of vagus nerve stimulation techniques, ranging from free and evidence-supported practices you can do at home, to expensive wearables whose clinical backing is still being established. Breathing techniques The most accessible, and arguably best-evidenced, form of vagal stimulation is something you’re already doing 20,000 times a day, just not very deliberately. Specific breathing patterns that extend the exhale have a direct, measurable effect on the parasympathetic nervous system – your body’s ‘rest and digest mode’ – with the vagus nerve playing a central role. Think of it like your body’s brake pedal: when you’re safe, relaxed or resting, it tells your body to calm down and take care of itself. “The ‘physiological sigh’ involves a slow inhale through the nose, followed by a second short sip of air, then a long, extended exhale through the mouth,” explains Dar. “The extended exhale activates that calm-down response in your body and can quickly reduce physical tension. In group settings, you can feel the room soften in minutes.” Stanford Medicine research found that cyclic sighing, a pattern similar to the physiological sigh, was the most effective of several breathing techniques tested for improving mood and reducing anxiety in real time. This is breathwork with genuine science behind it. Try: Inhaling through your nose, taking a second small sip of air, then exhaling slowly and fully through your mouth. Repeat three times. Humming and vocal vibrations The vagus nerve connects to the muscles of the larynx and pharynx, meaning that vibration created through humming, singing or even gargling can stimulate vagal pathways directly. It sounds almost laughably simple, but the mechanism is real, according to Dar. “Humming along to a song is a very simple way to shift your state quickly. Many people report warmth in the chest and a sense of grounding,” she tells us. While large-scale studies on humming specifically are limited, the broader principle of it is reported by research into choral singing, group music-making and even chanting in meditative practices. Which is a very scientific way of saying joining a choir might genuinely be good for your nervous system. Try: Choosing any song and humming along for two to three minutes. Notice whether there is a shift in your chest or jaw. Cold exposure Brief cold water exposure, specifically to the face or upper chest, triggers what is known as the diving reflex, a hardwired physiological response that slows your heart rate and shifts the nervous system into a parasympathetic state. It’s one reason why cold water swimming has gathered such an enthusiastic following, and why ending your shower with a cool blast has become a fixture of morning routine content. The version Dar recommends is simple: turn the shower to cold for 20 to 30 seconds at the end of your usual routine. Not a Scandinavian ice bath. Just a manageable, bracing moment. That said, if you have any cardiac conditions, it's worth checking with your GP before making this a habit. Try: Finishing your shower with 30 seconds of cooler water on your upper chest. It should feel bracing but manageable. Rhythmic tapping and movement “Light, repetitive tapping across the chest or collarbone area can help regulate arousal, the rhythm provides predictability, which the nervous system reads as safety,” Dar tells us. This principle underpins several established therapeutic approaches, including EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), and various somatic therapies (treatment focused on how emotions appear in the body) used in trauma treatment. The evidence base here is strongest in clinical trauma contexts, though the underlying idea that slow, rhythmic, predictable sensory input helps dial down nervous system arousal, is well supported. Try: Lightly tap across your collarbone or sternum in a slow, steady rhythm for one to two minutes. The predictability is the point. Eating in a calm state One of the more overlooked dimensions of vagal health is digestion. The vagus nerve is deeply involved in the gut-brain axis and plays an essential role in digestion. If you’re eating on the go, at your desk, or while mentally running through your to-do list, your body is essentially trying to do two incompatible things at once. “If you are eating while stressed, your body prioritises survival over digestion,” explains Dar. “Three slow breaths before eating can make more difference that most supplements marketed for gut health.” Try: Take three slow breaths before eating to shift out of sympathetic mode and support digestion. Electrical stimulation devices The consumer device market around vagus nerve stimulation has grown rapidly, with a range of wearable consumer devices, typically worn on the ear or neck, claiming to stimulate the vagus nerve electrically and effortlessly while you sit on the sofa. The technology itself isn’t fiction – transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) targets the auricular branch of the vagus nerve via the outer ear and is a real area of ongoing clinical research. But there’s an important distinction to understand here. “Implanted VNS is a surgically implanted pulse generator connected to an electrode wrapped around the left cervical vagus nerve,” explains Dr Tony Banerjee from HarleyDoc. “Wearable ear-clip devices are non-invasive and marketed largely for wellbeing, though clinical research is ongoing and evidence quality varies by condition and device.” The crucial distinction, according to Dr Banarjee, is between the well-established medical applications of implanted VNS (for things like epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression) and the claims made by consumer wellness wearables, which tend to be broader, more optimistic and considerably less rigorous. “Many consumer vagus devices do overclaim, mainly by implying medical-level outcomes without medical-grade evidence, presenting early or condition-specific research as if it generalises to wellbeing, and using broad language like ‘reset your nervous system’, which isn’t a regulated clinic endpoint,” Dr Banerjee adds. That isn’t to say these devices are useless. Research into their potential for anxiety, pain management and even inflammatory conditions is ongoing, and some findings are promising. However, the leap from promising early research to ‘buy this £200 ear clip for stress relief’ is a significant one. If you're curious, they appear to be generally safe for healthy adults, but if you have a heart condition, pacemaker, epilepsy or are pregnant, check with your GP first. So, what is most likely to benefit? If the wellness world has latched onto the vagus nerve with particular fervour, it’s not without reason. Because it turns out that the always-on, high-achieving, never-let-them-see-you-sweat way many of us operate is doing a number on our nervous systems. Chronic high performance, especially in cultures that reward busyness and emotional suppression, keeps the body locked in sympathetic nervous system overdrive, and that sustained stress state is the enemy of good vagal tone. “High achieving women tend to live in a state of being always on, always delivering, always anticipating the next thing. When ‘fight or flight’ becomes your default operating mode, vagal activity gets suppressed,” Pagett tells us. “Add in the hidden metabolic cost of appearing fine, managing perception, suppressing distress signals, maintaining composure, and the body is working far harder than it needs.” Sounds familiar? For many, the slow erosion of stress resilience is mistaken for personal failing – a sign they’re not coping as well as they used to – rather than a physiological process happening beneath the surface. “The body wasn’t failing to send signals, it was sending them constantly,” Pagett says. “It just took a while for the signals to get loud enough to hear.” The good news is that the techniques with the strongest evidence behind them – the physiological sigh, humming, cold exposure, rhythmic movement and mindful eating – all have legitimate rationale and, crucially, are free, accessible and low risk. No device required. It’s the consumer gadget market where things get murkier. ‘Vagus nerve’ has become shorthand for a broad range of wellness promises, and the marketing has sprinted ahead of the science. That doesn’t mean the research isn’t interesting (it is!), but interestingly early findings are not the same as a proven solution. “Regulation comes from repetition,” concludes Dar. “Small, daily cues of safety matter more than dramatic wellness trends. The goal is not to eliminate stress, but to improve recovery.” In other words, you do not need a gadget. You need consistency and a body that’s learned, slowly and surely, that it’s safe to rest. M0re wellbeing guides "I tried forest bathing to see if it can really help my anxiety" 22 ways to find your sunshine this winter 25 healthy winter recipes Expert explains: how to have a better night's sleep 10 ways to boost energy when tired Expert explains: what is the dopamine diet Expert explains: how ayurveda can help digestion
Best new restaurants in London to visit in 2026
The best new restaurant openings in London, expertly reviewed by the olive team. Keep up to date with the hottest new openings and find out which are not to be missed, plus which dishes to order in each restaurant
Looking for new restaurants in London? We've visited the hot new openings in the capital to experience the restaurant for ourselves to bring you our regularly updated best London restaurants list. Read on for all the best new openings (including some from the end of last year) and we'll be continually adding new restaurant openings for 2026 as they launch, after we've expertly reviewed each one. For more restaurant guides check out our best restaurants in Soho, Covent Garden, Shoreditch and the best restaurants with rooms in the UK. If you want to pull out all the stops, find out the UK's best showstopping restaurants to impress or try the best chef's table experiences in the UK. Best new London restaurant openings 2026 Cometa, Fitzrovia For bold Mexican seafood made for sharing Cometa, the latest from the Carousel collective, brings contemporary Mexican seafood to Charlotte Street with confident ease. It sits comfortably in the old bones of the building yet feels fresh, as though it has already found its rhythm. Terrazzo floors and warm details give the room an inviting glow. Banquettes suit groups, window tables are perfect for two. Come ready to share and order widely. The menu runs from crudos to larger plates, with seafood at its heart. I began with the house margarita and, usually wary of mezcal, was won over. Bright and citrus-led, with a touch of tamarind sweetness and a faint sherbet lift, it was dangerously easy to drink. Prawn ceviche was delicate and sweet, its smoky heat softened by lemon cream and crisp tostadas that appeared generously. Crab chilpachole rice with eel cream was deeply savoury, smoke and warmth in every spoonful. Fried chicken was the standout: shatteringly crisp, juicy within, lifted by agave and fresh mint. There are only 15 portions a day. Ex-dairy sirloin followed, boldly charred and topped with bone marrow fried tortilla and chilli. A caesar salad brought anchovy and parmesan comfort. Dulce de leche crème caramel closed the evening, silky and gently bitter. Technically assured yet relaxed, Cometa pairs flair with generosity. carousel-london.com Lydia Anderson Cooper's Cut at Four Seasons Hotel Tower Bridge Set inside the grand former Port of London Authority building – now the Four Seasons at Tower Bridge – Cooper’s Cut takes its name from Sir Edwin Cooper, the British architect who designed the building in 1922. His work combined scale with detail and the restaurant follows his inspiration: grand surroundings and cooking that is impressively precise. The centrepiece, and the reason to come, is Australian executive chef Luke Armstrong’s pride and joy: Japanese hokkaido A4 wagyu fillet. The steak arrives with a golden crust and a deeply succulent interior that all but dissolves as you eat. A quenelle of Kristal caviar and a silky Pomerol sauce push the classic surf and turf idea somewhere more refined. The wagyu is the star of a concise, elegant lunch that works as a guided tour of what the restaurant does best. We began with an amuse-bouche of Belted Galloway beef tartare and smoked scallop, followed by heritage beetroot with dijon mustard, crème fraîche and merlot vinegar: a simple, bright plate that set the tone. Next came chargrilled Scottish langoustines with saffron and citrus beurre blanc, sweet and lightly smoky from the grill. Dessert was a neat finish: granny smith apple tarte tatin with crème fraîche ice cream. There are plenty of other steaks on the main menu – Angus côte de boeuf and blue grey chateaubriand from the Lake District among them – but the wagyu is the dish that made our eyelashes flutter. cooperscutlondon.com instagram.com/cooperscut Keith Kendrick Bambi 2.0, London Fields James Dye first opened his music-led bar and restaurant in 2023 and has recently refurbed to double its capacity. Playful vibes remain, with contemporary art, a cosy mezzanine space and a large vinyl library at the back, from which DJs spin the decks every evening (plus, on weekends tables are cleared after dinner for dancing). Get up close and personal at the stainless steel counter while you work your way through the menu. Head chef Jamie Thorneycroft takes inspiration from around the world, most notably in the butterflied bream, dressed half and half in parsley and adobo sauce – a firm nod to his visit to Contramar in Mexico City (having tried both myself, this version certainly does the original justice). Kick off as we did with sourdough from neighbouring E5 Bakehouse to scoop up whipped ricotta drizzled in hot honey. Next comes miso trout atop mini blue corn tostadas, crunchy buttermilk fried chicken pieces with Szechuan gremolata and plump Atlantic prawns, still in their charcoaled armour, slathered in peri-peri sauce alongside sweet black garlic aïoli. Our sommelier Francesco recommended a Czech skin contact to complement the latter, my first time trying a wine from the region. The low-intervention wine list includes chilled reds and skin contact aplenty, all served in jazzy bespoke glasses. For dessert on our visit a choice of blood orange sorbet or basque cheesecake catered to post-lunch indulgence as well as a lighter option, to ensure nothing’s holding you back from that martini-fuelled dancefloor come 11pm. bambi-bar.com Alex Crossley Hoppers, Shoreditch For Sri Lankan and South Indian dishes Ten years after the Soho original, Hoppers has its fourth London site at the Tea Building in Shoreditch — and this one acts as a bridge between Sri Lanka and South India, bringing Bangalore, Madurai and Kochi into the mix alongside Colombo and Jaffna. The menu moves between regions. Prawn paniyaram – crisp, golden balls filled with masala prawns – come with a Chettinad rasa for dipping, hot and peppery. Kochi chilli chicken chop arrives in a curry leaf crumb, fried until shattering. Then there’s the crab kari omelette, inspired by Madurai: fluffy, spice-laced egg wrapped around crab, served with flaky thread parotta, podi-coated soft shell crab and a glossy crab gravy for mopping up. It’s the dish that will have you reaching for your phone camera. From Bangalore comes lamb benne dosa – buttery and pliable, wrapped around pulled lamb shoulder masala with sharp pickled onions. The Kerala sizzling fish kari lands theatrically, salmon cooked in banana leaf, aromatic and gently spiced. Alongside it, Lanka chicken kari delivers that familiar red warmth of pandan and lemongrass. The Shoreditch space, designed by Atelier Wren, channels South Indian palaces and Chettiar homes through Hoppers’ tropical-modern lens. It’s louder, more social and encourages ordering across the menu rather than sticking to one region. To drink, we balanced the spice with Hoppers’ signature Toddy Ale and an Arrack Attack highball, bringing Sri Lanka back into focus. olive tip: order across both regions – dosa next to kari, paniyaram next to omelette – to taste how closely Sri Lanka and South India intertwine. hopperslondon.com Keith Kendrick Best new London restaurant openings 2025 Acre, Notting Hill For simple food using quality, in-season ingredients Acre is the little sister to Thomas Straker’s flagship restaurant just a few doors away on the lively Golborne Road in west London. It’s an inviting, corner spot – arriving on a wet winter evening we emerged through heavy velvet curtains into a cosy, warmly lit room that felt a little bit like a snug Paris bistro. You may know Straker from his Insta fame and some of the dishes are already viral hits (like the chilli cheese smashburger, which is on and off the menu). Aside from that, the rest of the concise menu is a beautiful balance of top-notch ingredients and spot-on cooking. Deep-fried crunchy bites of pork belly came with a punchy herb and za’atar sauce for dipping. From the starters we loved the burrata with a salad of thinly shaved fennel and blood orange – creamy, sweet and sharp with little nuggets of caramelised walnuts. A main of pearly, fall-apart cod cooked with white beans and winter tomatoes was comfort heaven. The agnolotti stuffed with ricotta and rainbow chard was a pillowy and light, with a creamy parmesan sauce. We had food envy seeing our neighbours’ mussels with 'nduja (which we’d been recommended but decided against) but there’s always next time. The drinks are also on point – try the sweet/sour yuzu drop cocktail or a glass of complex, savoury nebbiolo by the glass. A nostalgic pudding of vanilla-spiked, creamy custard topped with perfectly poached pink rhubarb was a deliciously simple end to the meal. acre-london.com Janine Ratcliffe Maset, Marylebone For French and Mediterranean sharing dishes Located on Chiltern Street in Marylebone, Maset offers something relaxed and grounded in a polished postcode. It has the feel of a French neighbourhood bistro but the cooking tilts lighter, with Mediterranean touches running through a menu built around small plates and dishes made for sharing. Start with bowls piled high with clams, white wine and parsley, and the silkiest spinach and basil linguine. Then move on to generous plates of iberico pork chop with cannellini beans, winter tomatoes and salsa verde, or the freshest dover sole served with hazelnuts and verbena. The dessert menu is simple but stunning: beautifully dark chocolate mousse with refreshing blood orange, or the perfect citrussy lemon tart with crème fraîche. For a boozy finish, opt for an after-dinner cocktail: the saffron margarita and preserved lemon martini carry the perfect kick. Service here is sleek and warm without being over-attentive – it’s very easy to settle in for the night. maset.london Lily Barclay Gilroy's Loft, Covent Garden For Guinness and seafood Gilroy’s Loft is the cherry on the top of the new Guinness Open Gate Brewery recently opened in the Neal Street area of Covent Garden. Walk in from the outdoor courtyard (where you can grab a casual pint and a pie from pastry legend Calum Franklin) through The Porter’s Table grill and a dedicated lift whizzes you up to a top-floor, light-filled dining room. The atmosphere on a late Friday afternoon is fun and buzzy – the terrace wasn’t open when we visited but will be a draw once the summer months arrive. There’s a large horseshoe bar in the middle of the room which can accommodate walk-ins for those who just fancy a snack and a pint. Exec-chef Pip Lacey (ex Murano and Hicce) has leaned into the classic Guinness and seafood pairing – there are oyster platters and fruits de mer platters of increasing sizes. We decide to start with a selection of three types of oysters (two Irish, one from Guernsey) which came with classic shallot vinegar. It’s almost compulsory to try the Guinness here but if cocktails are more your thing try the Espresso Stoutini, the Guinness reduction giving surprising malty, caramel notes to the drink. There’s more Guinness in the rarebit from the starters, a thick slice of toasted bread piled with an umami, melty cheese topping with lovely crisp edges, served with a pickled carrot and chicory salad and walnut ketchup. Mains carry on the seafood theme. Lobster comes grilled in the half shell with a deeply savoury brown and pine nut butter, and a dish of perfectly flaking tender hake has a seasonal side of chargrilled sprouts with silky velouté. Crunchy golden fries with seaweed mayo were a great side. For dessert a must try is the blood orange mousse with Guinness ice cream: malty, sweet and savoury – a real revelation. opengatelondon.guinness.com Janine Ratcliffe Barang, Borough Market For big Cambodian flavours Tom Geoffrey’s smoky, herb-heavy Khmer-inspired menu is a symphony of a sharing experience, drawing on the chef’s years visiting Cambodia, delivered with the panache he honed at Kiln. Every flavour is amplified, working in harmony with myriad textures. Sharp is the way to start: a Kampot gin martini alongside a Carlingford oyster dressed with Koh Kong mignonette. The oyster, clean and saline, the mignonette bringing a hit of acidity, brought our tastebuds to attention for the sharing plates to come. From there a diver scallop, wallowing in melted tamarind brown butter, was sweet, sour and crunchy, topped with shards of pig’s ear crackling. Laab of venison – savoury, aromatic minced meat salad, enriched with pork fat and Khmer spices – is scoop-ably loose, perfect for piling into fresh lime leaves. Its richness is offset by stir-fried winter greens with pork jowl, served alongside bright citrus fruit with pear, bitter leaves and shrimp floss. From the grill comes the drama. Fragrant whole red mullet, cooked in banana leaf, torn apart and dipped into Kep sauce with fistfuls of herbs. Then the hero of the experience: bone-in sirloin – thick, juicy, charred, served with bone marrow and prahok dripping, plus a sharp chilli relish to keep it balanced. Dessert finishes the meal with freshness – pineapple and galangal sorbet topped with candied nuts and lime leaf meringue: fragrant and refreshing. olive tip: book early to bag a table with a view of the pass, then grab a beer from the downstairs bar at The Globe Tavern and enjoy the theatre. baranglondon.com Keith Kendrick Huǒ, Belisize Village For an extensive pan-Asian menu Bright, airy and fun, Huǒ is a venue to come to with friends and family. There’s an extensive pan-Asian menu of good-sized servings, so sharing is the way to go – the more of you there, the more you can try. The range of choice means that there will be something for everyone, no matter their chilli rating preference, and several dishes can be had with tofu rather than meat. Start with classics like siu mai, lettuce wraps and daikon cakes, and then move on to pad thai (excellent), steamed seabass with ginger and garlic, and crispy shredded chilli beef or a massaman curry. Cocktails range from classic to those with an Asian flavour twist (alcoholic or not) and there’s a lovely bar so you could pop in for a drink and some noodles for a more low-key night out. There’s also private dining space if you’ve got a special meal to host. This is the second Huǒ to open: if you are nearer Chelsea then there's one your end of town too. nw3.huo.london Lulu Grimes Brasserie Constance, Fulham For faultless classics with a modern British edge, served with Thames views Set on the first floor of Fulham Pier (next to Fulham football club), Brasserie Constance has the polish of a grand hotel dining room but with an easy-going brasserie hum. Floor-to-ceiling river views (and a terrace in warmer weather) set the scene for confidently updated classics, beautifully made pastry and comforting mains. The name nods to Constance Spry, and ‘coronation’ notes pop up across the menu in clever, not too literal ways. We began with snacks of anchovy ‘fingers’ in crisp, immaculate pastry, then lamb and mint skewers that somehow tasted like a whole roast dinner in miniature. Smoked haddock croquettes arrived hot and rich, more luxe fishcake than bar snack. Coronation flavours made a cameo in a chicken pâté en croûte (a real flex of the kitchen’s pastry skill), followed by a light, flaky crab vol-au-vent slicked with a vibrant coronation remoulade. Mains were generous: skate came dressed in brown butter spiked with lime, lovage and capers, while a perfectly cooked pork chop was carved from the bone and brightened with blood orange and bitter leaves. From the sides we ordered fries which were everything they should be, and broccoli with hazelnuts and anchovy. Desserts kept the classical theme going, a light rhubarb savarin and a molten chocolate ale cake with malt ice cream. We went in the evening but if you go for lunch ask for a table by the windows for peak river views, and there’s also a great value set lunch Tuesdays to Fridays. brasserieconstance.com Barney Desmazery Belly Bistro, Kentish Town For modern Filipino fare Bistro vibes meet Filipino flavours in this charming neighbourhood spot. The room is cosy and warm with white tablecloths, soft lighting and gentle acoustics – remarkably for somewhere so compact, you won’t be listening in on your neighbours’ conversation. We started with a round of cocktails from the short, fun menu: a classic negroni softened with vanilla notes from pandan and a sweet, sour and fruity pineapple and tamarind margarita. Our server happily talked us through the menu, explaining the more unfamiliar dishes and recommending some of the big hitters. Scallops were prettily presented in half-shell bowls – thin slices, cured and bathed in a light creamy coconut sauce with tiny flavour pops of basil oil and fiery chilli. Our early table meant we could try the famous tempura cod pandesal (which regularly sells out). A chunky tranche of cod in a crisp, light batter served in a bun with American cheese and salmon roe tartar, it was a textural delight, like a posh Filet-O-Fish. There’s a selection of wagyu steaks (priced by weight and cut) – we chose the rib eye and it came medium-rare, perfectly seared but buttery soft in a deep, savoury soy and citrus sauce (and do get the crunchy beef fat fries to mop up the sauce). Wine is from mostly small low-intervention vineyards with plenty by the glass: we tried a delicious crisp German riesling and a juicy chilled red from Lebanon. If you can fit it in don’t miss the frozen custard profiterole with patis (Filipino fish sauce) caramel – we were a bit dubious about the combination but the balance of sweet and salty was perfect, and we kept going back until there was nothing left. A fitting, fun and surprising end to the dinner. Neighbourhood gem is often overused as a description but Belly Bistro really ticks all of the boxes. bellylondon.com Janine Ratcliffe Labombe, Mayfair For Michelin-starred à la carte dining that feels genuinely relaxed (but still seriously polished) Labombe sits in the corner of the COMO Metropolitan London with its own street entrance, so it feels like a standalone Mayfair wine bar rather than a hotel restaurant. The room is pared-back but plush – warm woods, soft lighting and an open kitchen that keeps the atmosphere lively – and the cooking is modern European with the occasional wink to nose-to-tail. It’s just earned a Michelin star. The menu is à la carte and built for grazing, snacks, starters, grills and a few generous mains. We started with the popular hot tongue bun – thinly sliced tongue stacked in toasted brioche with sharp pickles – essentially a very posh hot dog. Duck heart and cherry skewers were the bolder follow-up, the hearts wrapped in melting lardo and lifted by lightly pickled fruit. Hand-rolled pici pasta came glossed in a rich madeira and mushroom sauce, while seabass crudo was brightened with orange ponzu and a pleasing, fermented anchovy funk. Mains were more comforting, a plate-sized veal schnitzel and meaty chunks of monkfish with coco beans in glossy chicken sauce. We were too full for pudding but our neighbouring table’s rhubarb frangipane tart had us plotting a return. labombe.co.uk Barney Desmazery Poons, Somerset House For home-cooked Chinese food You should approach the Poon’s menu with a game plan in hand, it’s easy to get distracted unless you’ve done your homework, especially if dining as a twosome. Pick wontons or claypot or chicken, or, if you are lunching, the daily congee or noodles and go all in, the rest of the menu can wait for another day. If you have a choice of seating then the bar will give you plenty to observe – but wherever you end up this is a cosseting, pretty, elegant space that manages not to be slightest bit stuffy. Amy Poon started her business with an online dumpling dispatch business she called a ‘wontoneria’ and the same silky wontons are available at Poon’s: order the whole menu of pork, prawn, chicken and veg all slicked with chilli oil and a side of crunchy house pickles, and you’ll die happy. For the next visit choose white-cut poussin with spring onion ginger and chilli oil, or the wind-dried meat claypot rice alongside boiled peanuts (yes, delicious) and silken tofu with avocado and diced century eggs, and you’ll have had a completely different style of meal. Drink delightful small-batch teas from China and Taiwan (worth it for the tabletop tea dispenser alone) and a truly lovely selection of wines both chosen by Amy’s husband Michael Mackenzie. poonslondon.com Lulu Grimes Dim Sum Library, Covent Garden For innovative dim sum London isn’t short of fantastic places to eat dim sum but Dim Sum Library brings a particular kind of Hong Kong polish to Long Acre. Aqua Restaurant Group’s new international outpost has settled neatly into Covent Garden’s all-day rhythm – somewhere you can drop in for lunch, stretch things into afternoon tea or head pre-theatre for tea-themed cocktails. We went in dim sum first. The signature wagyu beef puff is the dish to swoon over: crisp, flaky pastry with a rich black pepper filling that’s light yet indulgent. Dan dan xiao long bao comes with a little jeopardy – delicate dumpling skins hold a spicy broth that requires care with the chopsticks. Black truffle har gau are plump with prawn sweetness, while the black truffle crispy skin chicken has skin so thin it cracks like glass. If you love heat, order dai-ching Sichuan chicken, mouth-tingling with chilli intensity. Then cool a little with slippery, aromatic cheung fun filled with roasted pork, spring onion and coriander. Beyond the baskets, there are larger Cantonese classics – black cod, sweet and sour pork – but dim sum is the main focus, skilfully showcased by deft chefs in the open-plan kitchen that runs the length of the vast, buzzy room. Dessert is worth saving room for. The classic egg tart has impossibly short, buttery pastry, while the oolong crème brûlée is soft, creamy and gently perfumed. dimsumlibrary.co.uk Keith Kendrick Cafe Kowloon, London Fields For contemporary Cantonese dining Hot on the toes of its noodle bar opening, Wonton Charlie's, the team behind Mr Bao has launched a contemporary Cantonese evening spot through the back, inspired by the fast-paced buzz of Hong Kong (from where co-owner Frank Yeung's dad hails). We sat at the glossy tiled counter so we could watch the chefs work the charcoal grill, while the adjacent dining room has a real vibe with a neon-lit bar and swishy curved booths, larger tables complete with lazy susans for sharing-style dishes. Kick off with on-trend sipping cocktails, a lime leaf delicately perched on the white lady offering a fragrant hit. Snacks include fish ball skewers in a light, fragrant curry sauce, tinned dace and black beans whipped into a cream cheese dip, and beef tendons two ways: puffed up like crackers and soy-marinated for deep umami results. On to the sharing highlights – lo bak go (turnip cake) garnished with crispy Chinese-style sausage and prawn toast, its bread base custom designed by E5 Bakehouse, topped with a thick layer of prawn and sesame seeds, deep-fried and sliced into soldiers alongside crispy prawn heads to dip into spring onion chill oil. There are two larger sharers: whole steamed sea bass looked fabulous but we were tempted by the Cantonese-style chickens twirling on the spit. Half a chicken, foot and all, comes doused in ginger sauce, Szechuan salt on the side, best paired with sesame-sautéed cabbage. The Hong Kong french toast is another winner (spot a theme?) – two thick slices of bread filled with a silky peanut crème patissière then deep-fried to ensure a crisp yet surprisingly light finish. cafekowloon.co.uk Alex Crossley Daka Daka, Mayfair For modern Georgian and natural wine Georgia is the world’s oldest wine-producing country, with 8,000 years of viticulture woven into its culture – and DakaDaka on Heddon Street puts that heritage front and centre. This modern Georgian restaurant and natural wine bar comes from Giorgi Mindiashvili and chef-patron Mitz Vora, with a list of more than 100 bottles curated by Honey Spencer, one of the UK’s most influential sommeliers and a leading voice in natural wine. We started, naturally, with an amber wine fermented on skins in the Georgian tradition: textured, savoury and a perfect match for the food. The kitchen, led by head chef Adrian Hernandez Farina, cooks over charcoal and a wood-fired hearth, and the menu leans into Georgia’s most defining dishes. We began with lobio – a kidney bean hummus slicked with ajika chilli crisp – earthy and smoky, made for scooping. Then came the khinkali, hand-folded soup dumplings served steaming hot. The iberico pork pluma and aged beef versions arrived with cracked black pepper and a burst of slurpable broth inside, the kind of dish that makes you slow down. From the grill, kababi skewers brought smoke and spice, while penovani (flaky, cheese-filled pastry) was rich and moreish. We moved on to shkmeruli, roast chicken in a confit garlic sauce, glossy and deeply savoury. Dessert kept things Georgian too. Napoleon, the regional mille-feuille, came layered with dulce de leche cream and caramel – delicately crisp and not overly sweet. Olive tip: ask the knowledgeable team to guide you through the amber wines by the glass alongside the khinkali: it’s the quickest way to understand what DakaDaka is really all about. instagram.com/dakadaka.london Keith Kendrick Plaza Khao Gaeng, Borough Yards For fiery southern Thai cooking Set under the railway arches that flank Borough Market, this fun spot brings the energy of a raan khao gaeng – the informal canteens that pop up on street corners and markets across Thailand. The high-ceilinged room is breezy and buzzy with a quirky, eclectic style: stainless steel tables, zingy pops of colour, retro Thai movie posters and restaurant signs all add to the atmosphere. Pre-visit we’d read a lot about the heat level of some of the southern Thai dishes and our server was keen to make sure we didn’t go in blind. She helpfully marked up our menu with dots (one for a mild dish, three for fiery), recommended a couple of must-order dishes and we chose accordingly. A Paricha margarita eased us into the heat zone – mango infused tequila and kumquat liquor with a kick of fresh Thai chilli served alongside an appetiser plate of miang pla: betel leaves to be wrapped around spicy sausage, dried fish and crunchy galangal floss to make a herbal, tangy mouthful. The yam strawberry salad was a refreshing sweet/salty surprise – strawberries in a punchy dressing, topped with a sprinkling of the tiniest translucent fish and coconut. From the curries, the gaeng massaman neua was deeply comforting – big chunks of beef, slow cooked in a rich spiced coconut sauce with hunks of potato to soak up all of that fragrant curry. Gung pad prik gaeng sator (tiger prawns stir-fried in red curry paste) brought some of that notorious heat but balanced it well with coconut cream. We kept the heat at bay with a icy glass of Singha beer, served in a chunky frozen glass tankard. Or if you’re in a crowd there’s the option to order a three-litre beer tower with your own tap – a fun playful touch for a very fun spot. plazakhaogaeng.com Janine Ratcliffe Sartoria Launcestone Place, South Kensington For a date night deserving of a white tablecloth Set between the bustle of Kensington High Street and the quieter elegance of Gloucester Road sits Sartoria Launceston Place. It’s a restaurant negotiating several identities at once: Regency stucco houses on one side, galleries and traffic on the other. Inside, though, it’s clear about what it wants to be. This is Milanese cooking, done with confidence and restraint. Sartoria Launceston Place is the younger sister to the original Sartoria on Savile Row and it carries that same sense of polish and tradition, just loosened slightly for this corner of west London. The room is all softness and polish. Banquette seating, white tablecloths and plenty of tucked away corners give it an easy sense of comfort, while still feeling smart. It’s an obvious choice for a date, though there are larger tables too, should the evening stretch into something more sociable. Being part of the Terence Conran family shows, not loudly, but in the calm assurance of the space. The menu follows the familiar Italian rhythm: snacks and breads, antipasti, primi, secondi and sides. I drank a peach bellini, sweet and balanced, with a gentle floral lift. Calamari arrived shatteringly crisp, paired with a chilli jam carrying just enough heat. Tuna tartare and beef carpaccio made a pleasing contrast: the tuna soft and buttery, glossed with vivid basil oil; the carpaccio deeply beefy, brightened by the sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes. For my primi, I chose the calamarata: generous and seafood-rich, mussels scattered through the pasta, red prawns offering small bursts of sweetness. Fillet steak followed, perfectly rare and lounging in a pool of creamy peppercorn sauce, so good we wished the plate had lingered a moment longer. We kept sides simple with sautéed spinach, its slight bite cutting cleanly through the richness. Tiramisu finished things, served from a large bowl at the table. It was exactly what you hope for: soft, balanced and quietly indulgent. Sometimes that’s more than enough. Service is warm and attentive, perhaps a little formal for some, but in keeping with the room and the setting. sartoria-launcestonplace.co.uk Lydia Anderson Motorino, Fitzrovia For modern London-Italian fare Modern and open, Stevie Parle’ and Luke Ahearne’s Italian-inspired bar-restaurant is a space for all occasions – quick lunches, group meals or cosy dinners. Booths line the walls, while bigger tables keep sight of the buzzy open kitchen. It’s a place you can talk without being overheard, or laugh without annoying your neighbours. We started with Moto Classic martinis, then tore into springy rosemary-scented focaccia, complemented by crisp, acidic pickles. From the starters, delica pumpkin with stracciatella, candied hazelnuts and radicchio moved comfortably between sweet, creamy and bitter. But the dish that defined the meal was the agnolotti carbonara. Each small pinched pasta pocket was filled with a classic pecorino and yolk-rich carbonara, and topped with salty bites of guanciale. The fun comes from eating it whole, as it bursts between your teeth. Clever and deeply satisfying. We’d heard about chef-owner Stevie’s Wildfarmed steaks from his own herd but, as tempted as we were, went another way. An old spot chop, sliced into slabs, was juicy and beautifully cooked, where the pink becomes blush, the rich meat cut through by mustard fruits and apple. Cornish blonde ray followed, robust and flake-apart, with a shellfish sauce that added depth without dulling the fish. Add a couple of glasses of the light Burgundy pinot noir and you have a perfectly balanced lunch. motorino.london Keith Kendrick Island, Kings Cross For elevated surf and turf Island takes the concept of surf and turf, and adds two cult chefs - Tom Brown (on surf) and Brad Carter (on turf) – to create a unique and playful menu. Although they aren’t cooking here day to day there’s some serious skill behind the open grill that lends a beautifully smoky edge to dishes. The dining room occupies the top floor of buzzy Mare St Market – it’s a big space but the cosy velvet-lined booths, banquette seating and chandelier-covered ceiling manage to make it warm and welcoming. We kicked off with a lamb and clam skewer – chunks of lamb belly, the fat rendered crispy and smoky, topped with tiny salty clams. Not listed on the menu but recommended by our server were seaweed flatbreads, puffed and golden with the edges almost like fried bread. We shared a whole grilled john dory which came doused in caper-spiked café de paris butter, the sweet flesh falling of the bone. An aged dairy ribeye was served with a deep umami version of peppercorn sauce and in place of chips little crunchy ‘turf’ roasties dusted with bone marrow powder (we also got the surf version dusted with mussel powder). A Bogtrotter-style layered chocolate cake to share finished us off – rich and dark with a shiny chocolate glaze, it was a perfect end to the meal. island-restaurants.com Janine Ratcliffe 74 Charlotte St by Ben Murphy, Fitzrovia For modern European 74 Charlotte Street by Ben Murphy sees the chef (who ran the kitchen at Launceston Place to great acclaim) in his first solo spot. The room is calm and elegant: coming in from a rainy winter evening the golden light and a warm atmosphere was immediately welcoming, as was the beautiful crescent-shaped cocktail bar where we kicked off with an icy, citrussy yuzu gimlet and a French 75. Such is the commitment to a perfect cocktail that my drink was decanted into a fresh frosty glass halfway through to keep it chilled. Don’t skip the bread – a pillowy loaf of tear-apart milk bread served with a cube of beurre noisette and a dish of hummus with vivid green pumpkin seed oil was just gorgeous. We loved the tender butter poached lobster tail with a tartlet topped with tiny discs of pumpkin to look like fish scales, and the iberica presa pork served perfectly pink with tiny grilled baby gem, carrot purée and a savoury jus – each dish looking like a little work of art. The wine list has some interesting by the glass options, with a Turkish sauvignon blanc being a particular surprise. Desserts are fun – there’s a retro mint green ice cream trolley with a seasonal flavour (mince pie on our visit) and a lovely chocolate tart, dense and rich with crisp chocolate pastry and hazelnut praline. 74charlottestreet.com Janine Ratcliffe Ria's, Soho For deep-dish Detroit pizza Ria’s is a cosy, laid-back spot selling fluffy Detroit-style pizza and natural wines. It's perfect for intimate dates and candle-lit catch-ups, full of charm and character. The latest Soho site is snug yet elegantly furnished, building on everything that made the Notting Hill original a hit, with exciting new slices and a sultry wine cave. Ria’s ferments its dough for up to 72 hours, which gives it a deeper flavour and a deliciously chewy crust. Deep-dish pizza is filling but the pies at Ria’s never feel too much. Our favourite flavours were the House Pie and the Soho Chilli Crisp. The first had a red sauce base and a lip-smacking combination of ricotta, basil and lemon drizzle. The latter was laden with ’nduja, Lao Gan Ma crispy chilli oil, pickled shallots, spring onions and aged parmesan – tongue-tingling and tangy. There is a great range of natural wine to sip alongside your slice at Ria's: we enjoyed a glass of Orange de Rias for its tropical brightness, and a glass of Herrigoia – a crunchy, easy-going red with tart cherry notes. There's also a small but sharp cocktail list, bottled beer and a good range of soft drinks. If you’ve got room for dessert, treat yourself to a deep-fried Mars bar with soft serve vanilla ice cream. Sprinkled with a little bit of sea salt, it really is the ultimate treat. rias.world/soho Helen Salter 2210 by NattyCanCook, Herne Hill For reimagined Caribbean food As a Brixton resident I was extra excited about this opening. The Clink project at HMP Brixton inspired Nathaniel Mortley to turn his life around, launching a social media channel which led to residencies and now his permanent home in Herne Hill. Though born and raised in Peckham, Natty’s heritage is Bajan, Jamaican and Guyanese, thus he spotlights flavours and ingredients from the region in his elevated dishes. We kicked off by dunking grilled roti triangles into whipped scotch bonnet butter. Next came crispy spring rolls stuffed with ackee and saltfish, and pork belly with crackling trim, spiced jus and puddles of scotch bonnet mayo. I recommend sharing the hearty mains, all served with a choice of aromatic jollof rice or spiced rice and peas. There’s a sophisticated take on jerk chicken with mango and pineapple salsa, a much talked-about lamb rump with tamarind jus, and pan-seared spiced duck breast served with a show-stealing confit leg croquette. My highlight was whole brill lifted with a lightly spiced plantain velouté, pickled plantain cubes and vibrant coriander pesto. Don’t miss deep-fried apple crumble for dessert, presented in croquette form encasing spiced, pickled apple, with coffee chantilly cream and basil oil crème anglaise to lift. Cocktails pack a punch – signature rum punch is a popular choice, while margaritas are laced with scotch bonnet, and negronis infused with tangy sorrel. It’s a family affair – Natty's delightful godmother Cecilia was our server, his mum is his accountant and an old school friend helps out front of house. This, paired with the throwback soundtrack causing us to wiggle along in our plush grey chairs, ensures that good vibes prevail. I’m already planning a trip back for the Sunday roast, with the promise of scotch chimichurri roasties, followed by a brisk walk in neighbouring Brockwell Park. 2210bynattycancook.com Alex Crossley ALTA, Soho For sophisticated northern Spanish cuisine There’s a focus on northern Spanish cuisine at this large, sophisticated addition to Soho’s Kingly Court. The two-floor space combines industrial warehouse features (large windows, exposed ceilings) with earthy touches – rough stone walls, textured wood and soft lighting. At the helm is Rob Roy Cameron, a chef well versed in the region thanks to years as Albert Adria’s right-hand man. We were advised to order four to five snacks and starters to share between two. The highlight was a set of five rich, smoked Txistorra pork sausages charred on the grill and doused in aged PX vinegar, closely followed by a striking sardine and wine-soaked raisin empanada neatly encased in a puff pastry blanket, the fish head and tail peeking out for show. Sharing mains are cooked on the wood-fired open grill, providing a theatrical focal point on the restaurant’s ground floor. Think 35-day aged sirloin and ribeye, pork chops and Basque classic turbot. Must-order salt-baked Charlotte potatoes are finished in the pan, topped with a disc of mojo verde butter that slowly melts into the hot, crispy flesh. Desserts are by no means an afterthought – finish with dark chocolate ganache lifted with olive oil and salt, topped with sourdough ice cream and charred Italian meringue. The drinks menu is strong – Basque 75 is a pétillant combination of txakoli, oak-aged vodka, verjus, orange blossom and oloroso sherry, while a considerable selection of vermouths and sherry are a welcome feature alongside natural wines. alta-restaurant.com som saa, Shoreditch For Thai food After a fire devastated its kitchen early in 2025, som saa has reopened with its same regional Thai authenticity and buzzy vibes, but with a few new angles and a bit more bar-snack energy – recalibrations the team introduced after months to reflect and refresh. We started where the menu now gently nudges you to start: the nibbly bits. Tua phrik krob — deep-fried cashews with makrut lime leaf and dried chilli — are toasty, fragrant and entice you to keep reaching back into the bowl. Nang gai thort, crisp chicken skin with sriracha, makes you yearn to recreate it at home from the family roast. From there, the table builds itself. Gai yaang (BBQ chicken) comes off the grill juicy and lightly charred, with a tamarind jaew dip that keeps the sweet-sour heat tidy. Yum sanat, a warm northern salad of grilled pork, aubergine and herbs, has that lovely Thai balancing act: smoky meat, soft veg, bright herbs, a little roasted rice nuttiness. Dtom juet — clear soup of shiitake, samphire, kajon flowers and tofu skin — is the reset button in the middle of all that spice. Curries and braises keep the meal anchored. Mu parlow (five-spice soy-braised pork with fermented chilli sauce and a soy-cured egg) is glossy, savoury comfort, while gaeng gari yort mapraow orn — tofu with heart of coconut palm — brings an aromatic, gently sweet warmth. A side of sticky rice feels less like an option and more like the point. Olive tip: Start with four or five small dishes, then add a curry and rice. If the daily som dtam is on, order it — it sharpens everything around it. somsaa.com Keith Kendrick Cô Thành, Covent Garden For Vietnamese noodles On visiting Ho Chi Minh in 2013, Hong Kong based Brian Woo was transfixed by local Nguyễn Thị Thanh's street stand, returning daily for her rotating noodle soups. He befriended the ‘Lunch Lady’, training with her for three years before opening a restaurant in her name in Hong Kong. Now Cô Thành comes to Covent Garden, taking the elegant former Frenchie site and adding a vibrant Vietnamese canteen sheen – mirrored tabletops, signage popping from exposed brick walls and colourful plastic stools outside. Sharing starters include minced beef wrapped in betel leaf, sausage skewers glistening in tamarind glaze and beer battered chicken wings with sweet, spicy fish sauce. Next comes an extensive list of noodle soups, my highlight being fragrant bún bò huế, the broth sweetened with pineapple that tenderises the rare beef and beef shank slices along with springy meatballs, fresh herbs and shredded morning glory. Seafood-packed bún Thái has a tom yum edge thanks to tamarind, galangal and ginger, while bún mám packs a fermented umami punch, and bún riêu’s crab base is ideal for thinner vermicelli noodles. We were recommended to drop a couple of unique yellow chillies into our broth, allow them to infuse their floral fragrant spicy kick and then remove. Dinky desserts punch above their weight, from kem chuối inspired coconut and banana ice cream lifted with lime zest, to tiramisu laced with rum and dark roast coffee that caramelises into the mascarpone. Dipping deep-fried sponge fritters into Vietnamese drip cà phê took me right back to Hanoi’s quirky coffee shops. Next time I’ll be trying the clarified bloody mary style cocktail, Vietnamese Maria, for a savoury pick-me-up. cothanhrestaurant.com/london Alex Crossley The Salusbury, Queens Park For modern European cooking in a neighbourhood restaurant setting Half pub, half dining room, The Salusbury brings a confident new energy to leafy north-west London. We visited on a busy Friday night, the bar buzzing with chatter and that end-of-week cheer. Step through to the dining room, though, and the volume drops – it feels like a little pocket of calm tucked just off the action. Modern European cooking leads the charge and the kitchen delivers. We kicked off with the du jour snack, parmesan churros, and these were easily the best version we’ve tried: crisp, savoury and impossible not to leave even a crumb behind. A silky Dorset crab linguine with a peppery cacio e pepe kick had us chasing every last strand, helped along by warm rosemary focaccia that’s clearly made with care. Generous portions continue into the mains. Roast cod came piled high with mussels and sweet leeks in a bowl-sipping cider broth, while Somerset chicken arrived succulent and bronzed with golden gnocchi, sweetcorn and girolles. Desserts hold their own too – the salted caramel tart has just the right wobble and a perfectly judged sweetness. A polished, promising new neighbourhood staple. thesalusbury.co.uk Barney Desmazery Khao-Sō-i, Soho For fiery Northern Thai cuisine London doesn’t lack for Thai restaurants but at Khao-Sō-i – named after the curry noodle dish of Chiang Mai – chef Win Srinavakool has created a menu shaped by the flavours of northern Thailand, with smoke from a wood-fired grill and bold (okay, hot) spice. We began with moo ping: wafer-thin Norfolk pork belly skewers grilled over wood with a sticky, caramelised edge and a deep, savoury warmth. Tum khanun – young jackfruit salad tossed with northern herbs – whacks your tastebuds with refreshing and tingling heat and zest. It’s a perfect spot for an after-work or after-shopping catch-up, buzzing with chatter, the throb of music and the theatre of the open grill. The main event is the namesake khao soi. We tried it two ways: gai (chicken) and bai pye (torched beef chuck eye). The pleasure is in shaping it. Each bowl arrives with coconut cream, chilli flakes, herbs and crisp noodles on the side, so you build your own version: richer, hotter, crunchier, or all of the above, before you pull the noodles from the creamy spiced broth and slurp like no one’s watching. There’s an extensive drinks list but ice-cold Neckstamper pale ale is the way to go to douse the fire and cleanse your palate before diving in to luxurious cha thai cheesecake or bai toey ice cream with cloud-like cubes of brioche. Olive tip: If you go as a two-some order separate dishes and share. You’ll want to experience as much of the menu as possible. khaosoilondon.com Keith Kendrick Il Bambini Club, Hoxton For Italian food in beautiful surroundings Walk into the main entrance of The Hoxton hotel and you are immediately swept into the chic world of Il Bambini Club. The room is warmly lit and beautifully furnished – think curved banquette seating, colourful stripes and florals, and giant fringed lampshades. A big open kitchen runs along one side, which adds to the appealing buzz. We tucked ourselves into one of the comfy booths and kicked things off with pair of cocktails – a rosso spritz with Martini Riserva, cherry and sparkling red, and a punchy vesper martini. The concise menu is trattoria-style. Antipasti of zingy yellowfin tuna tartare came heaped on a pile of crushed avocado, and a whole burrata was served with a juicy panzanella salad (for smaller appetites these would make a perfect lunch or light dinner). After consulting our waiter went for piatti (mains) of meatballs cloaked in a rich tomato sauce with dollops of whipped ricotta and a roasted sea bass – the sweet flesh cut with bitter escarole and capers. From a mostly Italian wine list the chilled Nero d’Avola is great value at £9 a glass – a lovely partner to the food or light enough to drink as an aperitivo. For dessert we shared the very generous tiramisu – creamy and light with a decent kick of espresso and booze. It gave us an excuse to linger, have one more drink and enjoy the cosy vibes of the beautiful room. bambini-restaurant.com Janine Ratcliffe The Elizabeth, Belgravia For cosy bistro vibes This exciting opening sees legendary chef Anthony Demetre, who pioneered modern British cooking at restaurants like Arbutus and Wild Honey, overseeing the new menu. Stepping into the intimate dining room, all leather banquettes and dark wood panelling, felt like entering a Parisian-style bistro. We loved the cosy feel, especially as we were able to get a sneak peek at our neighbour’s dishes to help ordering. The concise menu follows a three-course style which felt refreshing in this age of sharing plates. From starters we chose a Demetre classic, pâté en croûte. Layers of guinea fowl, pork and duck in a crisp pastry shell which came in a generous slab with a dollop of pickled walnut ketchup. After consulting our server we went for mains with an autumnal feel – a steamed Cornish sea bream with a piquant diced piperade and a rich bouillabaisse sauce poured tableside for drama, and a meltingly tender duck confit with comforting stew of chickpeas, spinach and oregano. There’s a pleasingly retro cocktail list – I tried the zingy Lemondrop and my non-drinking guest was given a Juke of Westminster – a non alcoholic wine shrub posing as a glass of red. There’s also a great selection of wines by the glass starting at £7.50. We did end up sharing a dessert of perfectly executed crème brûlée with a rich vanilla spiked custard and shatteringly crisp crust which was a lovely light way to end dinner. olive tip: There’s an amazing value set menu at lunch and early dinner (two courses for £25 or three for £29.50) – on our visit it included Cumbrian beef tartare with ’nduja mayo and beef dripping toast; chicken with pearl barley, morteau and duxelles; and a pear tart with clotted cream. theelizabethsw1.co.uk Janine Ratcliffe Platapian, Soho Of the many surprising dishes at Platapian, the Soho Thai restaurant from the people behind Patara, one especially stood out: cabbage roasted until soft yet still with bite, the wedges dressed with fish sauce and whole chillies to deliver a sweet-salty heat that works beautifully with the vegetable’s faint sourness. But it’s by no means the only eyebrow-raiser in this stylish, sleek space on one of London’s busiest streets. We started with crispy chicken skin with a squeeze of lime – think gourmet pork scratchings. Stuffed snub nose chilli stuffed with minced chicken and prawn is big enough to share, plump and aromatic, and, despite its name, only mildly hot. Then a pandan-leaf wrapped parcel of miang kham scallop, beautifully silky and smoky. Mains kept the balance between comfort and freshness. Short rib beef in five-spice ‘paloh’ with grated salted egg yolk is the stand-out. Flake-apart meat in a rich gravy was positively swoon-worthy. While southern-style yellow curry with crab, mellow and light, saucy with coconut, was a hug in a bowl. Together they showed how Platapian’s menu celebrates the whole of Thai cuisine. From the drinks list, Tom Yum-tini and a whisky sour are smart, punchy and in simpatico with the elegance of the restaurant, while desserts use Thai ingredients to twist familiar Western dishes, such as a smooth pandan crème brûlée. olive tip: When we went on a Thursday night, Platapian was packed, buzzing and loud – so if you want to talk ask for a counter seat near the front. pataralondon.com Keith Kendrick Taco Bros, East Finchley For taco lovers who’ll cross town for them Taco Bros is the sort of neighbourhood place you wander into for something simple and good, then find yourself staying longer than planned, thinking, okay, we’ll order another round. Taco Bros grew from a taco truck and still carries that scrappy charm, though the new bricks and mortar space has its own warmth. Family photos, bright ceiling decorations and the hum of early evening give it the feel of a home kitchen that happens to pour margaritas. I started with the guacamole, which arrived with a heap of crisp tortilla chips and a bowl of green that kept a little of its rustic chunkiness, the sort that feels properly made by hand rather than fussed with. The fish tacos took me straight back to their market days: batter shatter-crisp, slaw bright, tortillas full of flavour. The lamb birria came with a jus that was rich and intensely fatty in the most comforting way, sharpened by white onion and lime. Even the chicken enchiladas felt like a quiet hug, all smoke and gentle heat. The margarita list is long and playful. I went for mango, sweet and sunny, though I found myself wishing it was a touch more sour. There’s a full spread of Mexican soft drink brand Jarritos too, including flavours I’d never seen before. I finished with churros, hot and crisp with enough dulce de leche to make me grateful for the walk home. tacobrosldn.co.uk Legado, Shoreditch For regional Spanish cuisine in a contemporary setting At Nieves Barragán Mohacho (chef-owner of Michelin-starred Sabor)’s regional Spanish restaurant, a bar complete with Estrella Galicia’s signature ceramic taps welcomes guests into the contemporary space. A wine rack spans almost an entire exposed brick wall and prime kitchen pass seats watch over chefs adding finishing touches to no fewer than nine menu sections. We were advised to order three to four dishes each, including two starters, a rice dish and a dessert to share. Things kicked off strong with pan tomate – the olive oil doused tomato toast elevated with dry-cured beef – and tempura-coated piquillo peppers filled with creamy goat’s cheese. Seafood highlights included glistening pan-fried squid stuffed with girolles set on a rich squid ink bisque and tiny fried camarones coated in glossy egg yolk. The ibérico lagarto pork atop rice cooked in earthy mushroom stock is a menu must-order, while sliced tomatoes topped with red mullet bottarga and shaved cured blue fin tuna heart were a surprise highlight. Dessert left us gleeful – saffron honey ice cream quenelle with white chocolate mousse and caramelised pistachios – and we’ll be back to try the Segovian sponge cake. Unique 3-sip amuse-bouche cocktails are served in quirky cups – Spanish bitter aperitif Bonanto is balanced with sharp, sweet rhubarb. To follow, there are multiple sangria options, plenty of Spanish-style gin tonics (re:strong!) and a regional wine and sherry list including my favourite albariño grape from Rías Baixas. olive tip: I would usually order suckling pig if on the menu, and the one at Sabor is epic, but we opted for the more manageable (for two) half pig’s head, deep-fried and sprinkled with jamón powder, which we pulled apart to find juicy treasures. legadorestaurants.com Alex Crossley Canal, Westbourne Park Tucked down a cobbled mews between Notting Hill and Maida Vale, and built into the new Mason & Fifth hotel-apartment complex, Canal is one of London’s most exciting recent openings. Its towpath perch on the Grand Union Canal sets a modern, urban stage for food that’s both precise and packed with flavour. Provenance is proudly front and centre – sourdough comes from Layla, while charcuterie like jamón and Mangalitza sausages arrive from Coombeshead Farm. The menu is cleverly pitched so there’s something for everyone. A fat diner-style cheeseburger bucks the smashburger trend and feels all the better for it, while scallops arrive plump and caramelised, served in their shells with ’nduja butter begging to be mopped up with that sourdough. Crab on toast is so fresh it tastes like it’s just left the boat, and chicken with sweetcorn and girolles might be the most impressive chicken breast you’ll eat this year. Desserts are just as memorable – a tiramisu that’s unapologetically boozy, and a brown butter almond cake with sour cherries that’s indulgent yet balanced. With seasoned owners and staff who know their craft, Canal feels confident from the start – we can’t wait to return. mason-fifth.com Barney Desmazery The Lavery For modern European cooking inside a Grade II-listed townhouse The Lavery is an elegant space in smart South Kensington, where you can expect chic yet understated Georgian interiors: high ceilings, wooden floors, beautiful fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu and service are as chic as the interiors – no surprise given that the kitchen is led by Yohei Furuhashi, former chef at River Café, Petersham Nurseries and Toklas. His menu showcases Mediterranean seasonality while incorporating ingredients from the British Isles. Starters strike a beautiful balance of fresh flavours, from grilled squid with fresh borlotti, rocket and chilli to Honeymoon melon with shaved courgette and almonds. Standout mains include Scottish sea trout baked in fig leaves and sea salt served with pea, fennel and basil aïoli, and linguine with lobster in tomato and vodka sauce. Desserts are worth lingering over, from a feather-light bean chocolate mousse to the perfect almond tart accompanied by strawberries and cream. You’ll be well looked after from the moment you arrive to the last lick of the dessert spoon. For excellent value, visit for the three-course set lunch menu for £38 per person. thelavery.co.uk Lily Barclay Noisy Oyster, Shoreditch For modern bistro dishes Noisy Oyster is a new opening from the team behind Soho’s Firebird – a sleek modern bistro with a focus on sustainable seafood and killer martinis. The room is an airy, industrial space with shiny, steel-topped tables and huge open windows leading onto a large buzzy terrace. Kick things off with one of the cult icy-cold mini martinis – the Oyster, made with Sapling gin, Otto’s vermouth and an oyster leaf garnish is great paired with a smoked tomato water and oyster dressed with crème fraîche. From the playful menu, small plate wins include a raw scallop crudo topped with zingy pickled raspberries and basil oil, and a dish of rich, creamy stracciatella topped with anchovies and almond pesto (don’t forget to order the light, puffy focaccia to spoon this onto). Guinness bread topped with a generous slick of whipped butter and piled with Yarra Valley red caviar is the obvious Instagrammable dish but still delicious. Standout larger plates include a crunchy breaded hake with a seasonal peach panzanella, and monkfish skewers with XO sauce, topped with a melting, paper-thin slice of lardo. We tried a twist on rum baba for dessert soaked in fig leaf bourbon and served with crème anglaise and strawberries but the soft-serve Jersey ice cream topped with caviar is intriguing enough for a repeat visit. noisyoysterlondon.co.uk Janine Ratcliffe Lai Rai, Peckham For modern Vietnamese Meet friends for fuss-free snacks and cold beers at this dinky new-school Vietnamese. With the name Lai Rai meaning ‘little by little’, the space is a homage to Vietnamese canteens, with a buttery colour palette, neon lighting and slick red stools. By day it serves bánh mì and Vietnamese coffee, by evening the menu evolves into playful twists on familiar Vietnamese flavours – you won't find any bowls of pho here. Smaller plates include crunchy prawn lollies on sugarcane stalks and a light, multicoloured papaya jellyfish salad with lumps of pineapple, charred tomatoes, fresh Viet herbs and peanuts, mopped clean with charred bánh mì chunks. Larger dishes feature a twice-cooked chicken leg atop a herby dressing and grilled betel leaf beef, bathed in a smoky pool of house-made coffee barbecue jus. Vietnamese-inspired cocktails include the Xoài Kick, a bracing mix of tequila, mango, red chillies and fruit salt, and a Viet coffee-laced vodka martini. Finish with a scoop of freshly churned ice cream made by small south London manufacturer Clingy Wrap, with unique flavours such as fish sauce vanilla caramel and kumquat cucumber sorbet. If you're looking for something altogether unexpected, you’ll find it here. lairai.london Helen Salter SINO, Notting Hill For Ukrainian fine dining Sino means “hay” in Ukrainian, but the word goes much deeper to encapsulate the country’s agricultural roots. At their contemporary fine-dining restaurant on All Saints Road, Ukrainian duo Polina Sychova and Eugene Korolev weave this concept into everything they do, from the menu to striking ceiling installation and handcrafted crockery. Interiors are soft, natural and warm – brushed clay walls, beige banquettes and linen drapes dressing the windows. Chef Eugene combines his Michelin-starred experience and Ukrainian heritage to revamp traditional dishes – bitesize potato and sorrel waffles stacked with sorrel-flecked soured cream and smoked pike roe; chicken kyiv presented in a bonbon-style sphere bursting with wild garlic butter alongside bison grass mash; and beef cheek dumplings bathing in oxtail broth spiced with star anise, fragrant with lemon verbena and umami-rich thanks to smoked mushroom garum. Don’t miss tartare-style marinated aubergine served with Kyyrma smoked cheese flatbread and spiced adjika dip to start. Elevated desserts include a riff on honey cake; its layers of honey and buckwheat flour crowned with buckwheat chocolate in a moat of whipped walnut sauce. Eastern European wines hail from Kyiv, Georgia’s Kakheti region and the Black Sea, while Ana Reznik’s cocktails play on nostalgic flavours from a childhood in Ukraine. sinorestaurant.co.uk Alex Crossley Tatar Bunar, Shoreditch For Ukrainian cuisine Southern Ukrainian cuisine is in the spotlight at this likeable new restaurant from Ukrainian restaurateurs Alex Cooper and Anna Andriienko. Named after Alex’s hometown of Tatarbunary, the menu is inspired by old family traditions and his grandmother’s recipes, as well as the richness of Bessarabian produce. There’s also a wine list packed with Ukrainian producers. Interiors are a soothing lush blend of creamy neutrals and natural textures with materials sourced from Eastern Europe such as reclaimed Carpathian wood and Bessarabian stone, with ceramics from Kyiv artist Svetlana Sholomitska. We start with forshmak: chunky dollops of finely chopped herring pâté on onion bread, the oily richness balanced by a disc of pink pickled onion and smoked soured cream. Bryndza, a crumbly, tangy, feta-like sheep’s milk cheese is topped with luscious slices of sweet tomato and sprat fillets for a caprese-like dish with an Eastern Europe spin. On the heartier side, banush – cornmeal and cream porridge – is velvety, cheesy and comforting, topped with meaty wild mushrooms. Mains come from the grill: we tried charred, juicy lamb chop served with yogurt, flavoursome pickled tomatoes and a bright and spicy sauce made with red peppers, the latter of which also accompanies tender, delicate grilled rabbit. Desserts are robust and rib-sticking. Crème brûlée comes with a secret surprise inside – a sturdy steamed varenyk dumpling filled with soft cheese – while crêpes come with three individual fillings: poppy seed sauce, blackcurrant jam and cottage cheese, all swimming in creamy custard. Tatar Bunar is generous to a fault – portions are sizeable, the glasses of wine are large and the flavours are bold and unapologetic. A refreshing addition to London's restaurant scene. @tatarbunar.london Hannah Guinness Lupa, Highbury For a neighbourhood Italian This cute neighbourhood corner spot is inspired by the osterias of Rome – where co-owner Ed Templeton lived for a time – with their comforting, simple dishes and casual, friendly atmosphere. The bright, breezy room feels fresh but keeps lots of the original charm intact, including the beautiful, almost floor to ceiling original windows. Chef Naz Hassan's menu is concise and a table of four could happily order most of the menu. Kick off with a punchy martini, heady with Malfy gin and fig leaf liqueur, and a snack of courgette flower stuffed with burrata, deep-fried and served on an umami courgette purée boosted with dashi. There are some pasta greatest hits – try the cacio e pepe with handmade pici in a generous slick of peppery, cheesy sauce. Mains include a thick slice of porchetta stuffed with apricot, gorgeously burnished with deep, crunchy crackling – order the creamy green vignarola veg as a perfect accompaniment. There are only two puddings but the tiramisu delivers – feather light and creamy with a proper kick of booze. Punters may book hoping to see a glimpse of co-owner Theo James (of White Lotus fame) but they’ll come back for the spot-on cooking. lupa.restaurant Janine Ratcliffe Osteria Angelina, Shoreditch For Italian and Japanese fusion Angelina in Dalston offers a unique fusion of Italian and Japanese cooking. This new offshoot caters to a more casual set-up, with tasting menus swapped out for a pick-and-mix of Italian-Japanese dishes and an open kitchen and pasta studio to be viewed from marble-topped tables. Small plates are split into pane (hello nori-flecked focaccia), insalate including Usman's magic mirin and star anise tricolore tomato salad, crudos, such as tuna belly with citrussy ponzu and wasabi, and fritti featuring courgette flowers stuffed with creamy miso and caramelised onion ricotta, topped with hazelnut furikake for extra crunch. Pastas are a highlight – the menu advises to order a couple and we agree. Kombu and truffle laced tortellini contrasts slow-cooked duck ragu and crunchy lotus flower pieces on folds of fazzoletti. Larger grill dishes include umami-rich grilled chicken in taro sauce slathered in miso butter, best paired with okonomiyaki-style shoestring fries. Finish with bruléed black sesame cheesecake or cheese panna cotta topped with caviar for a savoury burst. Playful combinations continue on the drinks list – Riso and Rosmarino pairs cynar and rosemary with sake and cucumber, while smoked pineapple and Sicilian smoked cactus distillate create a zippy Shinjuku Albatross. Lesser spotlighted regional Italian wines sit alongside sakes and a selection of digestifs including grappas and Japanese whiskies. angelina.london/osteria Alex Crossley Town, Covent Garden Stevie Parle's latest swishy, provenance-focused restaurant Any restaurant menu that opens with an extensive snack selection is on the money for London 2025: fried sage leaves with heather honey and chilli are a cocktail’s perfect partner. At Town, the new venue from Stevie Parle and Jonathan Downey the vibe is very much a modern take on early James Bond cool and classy. There’s a standalone bar (cocktails by Kevin Armstrong of Satan’s Whiskers fame, 3 choices of martini natch) which draws the eye on one side, while the space age pass to the kitchen is ringed in glowing baize green and every bit of detail from the ceiling to the frosted glasses shouts ‘attention’. The provenance of produce is equally hot. Wildfarmed beef is raised for the restaurant and served wine-cured with crunchy candied walnuts and posh ‘cheese whizz’, as steaks or in fat form as the cooking medium for pink fir potatoes. There are Seasalter clams swimming in sherry or as a main, curried with cod; Isle of Mull scallops with smoked chilli butter and Kentish asparagus swathed in Mangalista lardo. Kasmiri saffron risotto is served with bone marrow to be scooped out and stirred through, mighty rich in flavour and a show-off on the plate. Buttermilk pudding with roasted nespole (loquats) or a scoop of Todoli lemon and Thai basil sorbet make a refreshing end. There is of course an excellent wine list. town.restaurant Lulu Grimes Kerfield Arms, Camberwell Popular NE London pub team heads south of the river The team behind Islington favourite The Baring has kept things stripped back and simple at their new south London pub. The Victorian-era building boasts plenty of space to play with – for now, a bar with independent brews on tap divides a casual area dedicated to drinkers and walk-ins and a dining room for the full shebang, with the promise of outdoor seating and a private dining room next to the first-floor kitchen to come. To kick things off, a silky house martini combines olive oil fat washed Sapling gin and fennel-infused vermouth, while cherry blossom liqueur and sparkling rosé add spring flourish to a French 75. Order a portion of fried pizza dough fingers to scoop up taramasalata while you peruse the menu of seasonal stars. In the inaugural shish kebab, melting squiggles of squid and lardo slivers are barbecued on a skewer and served in spiced pul biber butter along with shaved fennel and whispy monk’s beard. Half a beefy smoked Marmande tomato, topped with cubes of smoked ricotta and pangrattato crumb, is balanced in a moat of zippy tomato consommé. For mains, grilled monkfish comes with tiny waxy Jersey Royals and friarielli greens in a rich shrimp bisque, while four pink, succulent Yorkshire hogget chops are nestled into a plate of violet artichokes, plump broad beans, creamy bagna cauda and rich hogget reduction. The short but strong dessert menu includes strawberry and chamomile custard doughnuts and chocolate olive oil mousse with rustic brownie and crème fraîche. thekerfieldarms.co.uk Alex Crossley Pyro, London Bridge Greek restaurant where smoke and fire do the talking Just a few minutes from Borough Market is Pyro, a light-filled, open-kitchen spot where smoke and fire do the heavy lifting. Headed up by Yiannis Mexis, formerly of Hide, the Greek menu leans into open-flame cooking with balance and control. Potato pita is essential: pillowy, dotted with onion seeds and perfect for scooping up cooling tzatziki or smoky aubergine topped with walnuts and pomegranate. A pork pluma skewer is rich, roasted and herb-packed, expertly balanced with sour apple. Sea bream crudo, by contrast, is light and bright – green olive and caper leaf add savoury lift, while precisely diced chillies lend occasional, welcome heat. The octopus is soft and lightly charred, paired with a spiced red wine sauce and silky yellow split pea. Lamb, cooked over alder wood, is standout – tender, subtly sweet, served with lamb-fat flatbreads and an anchovy-spiked yogurt. Sides more than pull their weight: crisp layered potatoes with garlicky skordalia and a confidently simple lettuce salad. Portokalopita, soaked with citrus syrup and served with a perfumed citrus leaf ice cream, ends things on a bright note. Pyro is a restaurant that lets fire do the talking but knows when to let something stay cool, crisp or raw. It’s considered and deeply satisfying. pyrorestaurant.co.uk Lydia Anderson Stay tuned for more reviews of new restaurants in London Reviews by Janine Ratcliffe, Christine Hayes, Lulu Grimes, Helen Salter, Hannah Guinness, Alex Crossley, Lydia Anderson Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Best restaurants in Hackney: where locals eat and drink
Check out our favourite restaurants, cafes, bars and foodie spots in Hackney – Sicilian red prawns, fragrant curries dipped into buttery homemade roti, and one of the best-value tasting menus in town
Looking for Hackney restaurants? Here are the olive team's favourite restaurants in London's North Eastern borough, from Hackney Road to Stoke Newington, Homerton and London Fields... Best places to eat and drink in Hackney Albers, De Beauvoir – for small plate classics with a twist Albers is a small corner room in De Beauvoir, all big windows and candlelight, with bikes sliding past outside and a faint Edward Hopper Nighthawks feeling to the scene. Inside, white walls and warm wood keep things simple, the tables close, the mood sociable. It’s the sort of place that wants to be your local even if you’ve crossed town for it. The cooking sits in that appealing middle ground between pub comfort and bistro intent: classics remembered, then gently tilted. I drank a sage cordial with soda, sweet and syrupy in the best way, and lifted by a soft herbal edge. The sardine ragu croquette was the first real wink from the kitchen: crisp outside, creamy within, deep with sardine warmth and finished with a generous parmesan dusting. Grey mullet crudo with cranberry and citrus was all balance, sharpness layered on sharpness, the fish cool and slightly creamy, the fruit giving tart little bursts. Sausage with sauerkraut and quince came rich and peppery, handmade and satisfying, the kraut leaning sweet-sour, quince adding a gentle perfume. The smoked eel and bacon caesar salad was the dish I kept going back to: smoke from eel and bacon folding into the salty anchovy depth of the dressing, crisp leaves: a bold take on something you think you know. Celeriac with confit egg was decadent and nutty. Bluefin tuna with peppercorn sauce was pleasant enough, thick buttery slices and a clean sear, though the sauce felt a touch thin and the temperature slightly off. Dessert was a maple and hazelnut ice cream sandwich: the biscuit was a little firm but the maple ice cream was silky smooth and toasty. Service is friendly, still smoothing its edges, and there’s no coffee or hot drinks to stretch the evening. Still, Albers feels like a place settling into itself. albers.london Mambow, Clapton – for modern Malaysian dishes Abby Lee has become eponymous with Malaysian cuisine in London. After years of pop-ups and a street-food outpost in Peckham, the chef opened a bricks-and-mortar space in northeast London. It’s a casual spot complete with pretty, mismatched tiles, bench seating and a lively soundtrack. Half of the small space is dedicated to an open kitchen, where Abby and her team dart between simmering pots and sizzling pans to create fiery, fragrant modern Malaysian dishes. Highlights include the signature lor bak – five spice pork encased in crisp, frilly beancurd, deep-fried stone bass steak in a lively Nyonya-style tamarind curry sauce and sticky, double-roasted pork belly pieces coated in a silky kecap manis caramel glaze, served with blue rice (to match Abby’s fabulous hair colour). There’s only one dessert option, but it has plenty going for it – a bright green pandan pancake filled with brown sugar and desiccated coconut, served with coffee ice cream. There’s a succinct natural wine list as well as Malaysian twists on classic cocktails. The floral, thirst-quenching Juice Box softens the heat from the spicier dishes, while the 100+ Sour is a refreshing concoction of gin, coconut liquor, miso syrup and blackberry. mambow.co.uk Bambi 2.0, London Fields – for sharing plates, wine and vinyl James Dye's music-led bar and restaurant is decked out with contemporary art, a cosy mezzanine space and a large vinyl library at the back, where DJs spin the decks come evening (plus, on weekends tables are cleared after dinner for dancing). Head chef Jamie Thorneycroft takes inspiration from around the world, most notably in the butterflied bream, dressed half and half in parsley and adobo sauce – a firm nod to his visit to Contramar in Mexico City. Kick off with sourdough from neighbouring E5 Bakehouse to scoop up whipped ricotta drizzled in hot honey. Next comes miso trout atop mini blue corn tostadas, crunchy buttermilk fried chicken pieces with Szechuan gremolata and plump Atlantic prawns slathered in peri-peri sauce alongside sweet black garlic aïoli. The low-intervention wine list includes chilled reds and skin contact aplenty (try a Czech orange to complement the prawns), all served in jazzy bespoke glasses. For dessert there's a choice of sorbet or basque cheesecake catered to post-lunch indulgence as well as a lighter option, to ensure nothing’s holding you back from that martini-fuelled dancefloor come 11pm. bambi-bar.com Sonora – for tacos You can always expect a queue to form at Sonora and for good reason, with loyal customers referring to it as the best tacos in London. Its barbacoa tacos, using homemade flour tortillas, are loaded with strong, tangy and juicy beef, melted cheddar and toppings including coriander, onion, lime and red salsa. It’s a messy affair, but one definitely worth partaking in. instagram.com/sonora.ldn Casa Fofó, Hackney Downs – for a great-value tasting menu An exceptional, yet accessible, haven for Hackney foodies where continental flavours collide without breaking the bank. Casa Fofó is the baby of Italian head chef Adolfo De Cecco, who’s best known for his time at Pidgin, and is joined by alumni from his time here – sous chef Sam Coleman and chef de partie Giuseppe Pepe. Eight courses are kicked off with a super-crisp potato cake finger with a spiced slice of pickled daikon and lardo, taken from a well-fed Middle White pig. The menu, which is tweaked daily, is Marie Kondo-esque minimal with only a few words to describe each finely tuned dish, making each arrival a pleasant surprise. casafofolondon.co.uk Angelina, Dalston – for Italian-Japanese fusion Sleek and buzzy. Angelina’s minimalist interiors include high ceilings, oversized pendant lamps, plenty of indoor greenery and wooden floors. Sit in dusky-toned chairs to eat, or perch at a counter surrounding the open kitchen and watch the chefs calmly at work. Simple yet refined Italian-Japanese cooking is the focus, and their dining concept is boldly simple: a 13-course sharing menu for £68. The menu starts with elegant fish and seafood crudités: Sicilian red prawns, dusted with roasted rice powder and drizzled with olive oil, has a lusciously soft, almost creamy texture, while rich tuna belly is pepped up by a zingy blood orange dressing. Sea bream with mirin is salty-fresh. angelina.london Pophams, London Fields – for pastries and pasta The team behind the popular East London bakery has smartly moved its pastry skills into pasta territory for evenings in the London Fields branch. Don’t fret, bakes are still very much present, with hunks of fresh-from-the-oven sourdough to start, homemade caraway-flecked crackers to scoop up smoked trout pâté and a perfectly formed croissant apple tart, filled with buttery sesame compote, intricate slices of apple and a moat of vanilla custard. These baked delights bookmark the evening’s main event: a short selection of fresh, homemade pasta shapes coated, filled and topped with seasonal sauces. Favourites on our visit were casoncelli parcels filled with a white veal mince bolognese, tossed in butter, guanciale pieces and parmesan. Orecchiette are made with toasted sourdough flour, coated in chicken butter sauce as a vehicle for dinky chicken meatballs. Order a side of pan-fried and roasted Romana courgette sticks with a light coating of fine sourdough and sun-dried tomato crumbs. pophamsbakery.com/pasta Equal Parts, Hackney Road – for Italian aperitivo Michael Sager has partnered with Matteo Vaccargiu to open an Italian aperitivo bar in a green tiled-fronted corner spot, a few doors down from the original Sager + Wilde wine bar. It’s an elegant yet unfussy space, with plenty of wood panelling, flickering candles and vinyl twirling on the decks. Perch at the window ledge to watch trendy passers-by or bag a spot at the bar to see the team shake and stir signature cocktails in front of an impressive line-up of amaros, aperitivo and bitters. The Flor cocktail combines fino sherry and olive oil vodka with Matteo’s elevated clarification of fresh tomato, basil, chilli and a tiny touch of garlic for a bright, fresh finish, alla liquid bruschetta to evoke the Sardinian coast. The Orange is a gluggable concoction of orange wine, Meletti amaro and pear and elderflower syrup, while the ACE makes a refreshing twist on the garibaldi combining carrot cordial, fresh orange juice, Campari and soda. A seasonal infusion makes its way into a trio of classics; on our visit a strawberry and fig leaf martini combo that brightened the negroni, sbagliato and americano. equalpartslondon.com Cinco, Dalston – for Mexican-inspired cocktails Hidden away underneath sister restaurant Corrochio’s, Cinco is a rustic, sultry basement den with flickering candles and bare concrete walls decorated with Mexican art. First and foremost a bar that specialises in agave and Mexican spirits, its collection – including rare bottlings – is curated by Corrochio founders Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie from their travels across Daniel’s native Mexico. The bar even has its own in-house mezcal available to try and buy. Cocktails are surprising and layered, showcasing the full breadth of what agave spirits have to offer. The Doña Mago uses raicilla (another agave spirit), tomato liqueur, plum sake, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and plum and tomato cordial for a fabulous margarita-esque drink with smoky, fruity, tangy charm. Another next-level take on a marg comes in the form of the El Chihuas, with sotol (another Mexican distillate, made from the desert spoon plant), fig, guanabana and yuzu liqueurs. The end result is a tropical, creamy drink with a delicate floral edge. The Mujer Moderna features butter-washed Abasolo whisky, Nixta corn liqueur, crème de cacao and chocolate bitters for an opulent, cocoa-tinged interpretation of an old fashioned. Cinco also has a nice little roster of no- and low-alcohol cocktails made using alcohol-free spirits and Mexican ingredients – the La Bikini Cero, with non-alcoholic agave spirit, chilli syrup, verdita water and pineapple has a pleasing spicy kick. corrochios.com WAVE – for leisurely plant-based brunches Tucked down a quiet backstreet off buzzy Hackney Central lies a plant-based oasis. WAVE (We Are Vegan Everything) does exactly what it says on the tin and more: a fully vegan menu of brunches, pastries, bakes and drinks, set among Bali beach-inspired interiors with a neutral colour palette, rattan furniture and hanging macramé plants. The shakshuka with creamy butter beans comes topped with a convincing vegan egg made from whipped tahini yogurt and hollandaise. Eat the rainbow with the brekkie bowl of scrambled tofu, perfectly ripe avocado, roast tomatoes, hummus, sautéed kale and homemade barbecue beans. Açai bowls can be levelled up with Trip CBD, protein powder, maca powder and nut butters. Daily fresh treats from the counter include pastry perfection from up-and-coming plant-based bakery Okja in Spitalfields. Don’t sleep on these – the pistachio and lemon one is zesty and refreshing, while the chocolate hazelnut pastry hits the vegan Nutella spot. Try the salted coffee or peanut butter latte for a punchy caffeine hit, while the vibrant turmeric and beetroot lattes provide plant-powered goodness. Take it one step further with a medicinal lion’s mane latte or cordyceps chai – or make it a boozy brunch with a bloody mary. weareveganeverything.com Sune, Broadway Market – for eclectic small plates and natural wines Sommelier Honey Spencer and her partner Charlie Sims have curated hospitality experience from restaurants across the world to open their own place in Hackney. There’s a real neighbourhood-style buzz to the contemporary space, with a striking terracotta light installation casting a warm glow across the gnarled dark wood tables, prints of fresh produce and sweeping counter with floor-to-ceiling wine racks behind. Honey showcases natural wines, with plenty by the glass, from orange Czech pet nat to fresh Georgian Tsolikouri and South African Syrah. The menu is eclectic and bold, rotating dishes such as crisp potato cake topped with guindilla, anchovies and espelette pepper, sea bass crudo slivers in a vibrant borscht vinaigrette and the signature grilled pork chop bathing in a bisque-style prawn and lemongrass sauce, best paired with whipped brown butter emulsion spooned over pink fir potatoes. Head chef Michael Robins plays with his Canadian heritage in a homage to Montreal’s L’Express, where chefs meet after service for DIY beef tartare and croque Monsieur hybrids. At Sune, he tops a crisp, cheesy toastie with dairy beef tartare for a truly indulgent interlude between courses. sune.restaurant From The Ashes at Five Points Courtyard – for next-level BBQ BBQ legends Martin Anderson and Curtis Bell have a new home in Five Points Brewing Co’s expansive outdoor area beneath the railway arches. The succinct menu of smoker stars includes crisp beef brisket tacos, legendary ‘nduja doughnuts and brioche buns stuffed with smoked pork, garlic mayo and pickles. Meat-free options are equally excellent – floppy flatbreads doused in zaatar to scoop up sweet squash hummus and grilled hispi cabbage slathered in vegan ‘nduja and tahini yogurt. If you can't decide what to order, the chef's BBQ platter gives a taste of three meats and sides (loaded fries and bacon-adorned lettuce wedges) for £55. fromtheashesbbq.co.uk Koya Ko, Broadway Market – for Japanese udon noodles Tucked away off buzzing Broadway Market, Koya’s casual, friendly little sister follows suit from noodle bars found in Japan’s train stations, with a tachi-gui (standing-while-dining) element alongside seats for customers to slurp bowls of springy udon and tuck into donburi rice bowls. Pop in for the famous English/Japanese breakfast of hot udon topped with egg, bacon and butter soy mushrooms, or traditional neba-neba breakfast rice bowl with fermented soy beans, pickled seaweed and okra and onsen tamago egg. After midday, there’s crunchy chicken kara-age with spring onion sauce and steaming bowls of udon in dashi broth. Try new menu additions, such as slow-braised beef shin on hot noodles slathered in chilli oil, the KO salad of cold udon with pickled aubergine, and plenty of mini-don rice bowls to enjoy on the go. koya.co.uk Duke of Richmond, London Fields – for French gastro pub vibes A thoughtful restoration, including cool painted floorboards, calming accents of olive and cream on the walls, blue leather banquettes, and varnished wooden tables, make for a modern pub setting. Relaxed, a little bit rowdy (as all good pubs should be) and suitably stylish for its Hackney locals. The menu might be continental in its leaning but all of the dishes feel at home in their British pub setting – think seasonal giant vol au vents, rib cap burgers with confit shallots, roquefort, bearnaise sauce and fries, and tart au citron. Seafood shines – try super-light Cornish crab soufflé, sea trout with wild fennel and Cornish crab chip butties. thedukeofrichmond.com Little Duck The Picklery, Dalston – for casual small plates Dalston’s Little Duck The Picklery is no ordinary restaurant. Describing itself as a “fermenting kitchen, eatery and wine bar”, this third venue from the same team behind Soho’s Duck Soup and Hackney’s Raw Duck centres round one large, family-style kitchen table from which head chef and proprietor Tom Hill preps and cooks a carefully curated selection of seasonal small plates, guests only an arm’s length away. Drinks and dishes are scrawled on blackboards and change each week. For breakfast, expect the likes of beef and lamb sausages with garlic yogurt, flatbreads and pickled tomatoes, masala-spiced scrambled eggs, and shiitake mushroom oats. For lunch and dinner, the Mediterranean-skewed plates linger around the £8 to £11 mark and pack serious flavour. Start with a gut-friendly daily pickle or ferment (like a kimchi or kraut, for as little as £2.50) then move on to the plates proper. littleduckpicklery.com Morito, Hackney Road – for Cretan small plates With polished concrete floors, a striking, horseshoe, marble-topped bar, pops of colour and Instagrammable mirrored fish-scale tiles, Morito feels very much at home in Hackney. The open kitchen is headed by co-owner Samantha Clark and head chef Marianna Leivaditaki. Formerly at Moro, Marianna grew up in Crete and developed her feel for ingredients in her family’s fish restaurant. At Morito she makes exceptionally-sourced produce shine. Buffalo butter that smacks of the farm in Thessaloniki where it began life and the headiest za’atar from Istanbul make the breadbasket irresistible. The menu is similar to that of the first Morito with tapas, mezze and larger plates at lunch and dinner, but with new dishes, too – made-to-order Moroccan breads for breakfast, homemade halloumi with pickled za’atar, and kid mechoui with goat’s curd, preserved lemon and harissa. morito.co.uk Click here to try Morito's dinner party recipes yourself The Dusty Knuckle, Dalston – for cakes and bakes Looking for a bakery in Hackney? The Dusty Knuckle is a social enterprise café and bakery with a conscience, according to co-founder Max Tobias. “The idea was that we would start a bakery that could provide employment experiences to young people at the margins of society.” Max and chef Rebecca Oliver quit their jobs and launched The Dusty Knuckle from a shipping container in 2014. After three successful years it moved a few metres to a new permanent home opposite. It also runs regular bread-making classes and has ambitious plans to run a youth training academy in the future. thedustyknuckle.com/dalston Sager + Wilde, Hackney Road – for unusual wines and date night At this casual but romantic neighbourhood wine bar, huddle up in around candlelit tables, or prop yourself up at the industrial iron grate bar and soak up knowledge from the chatty staff while getting a closer look at rare bottles displayed on the rack along the back wall. The small but thoughtful wine menu covers lesser-known regions and quirky categories such fresh, bright Transylvanian white blend, juicy Georgian red made from indigenous grapes and toasty Alsatian crémant made using auxerrois grapes often reserved for whites rather than sparkling. The fino sherry-laced house martini, lifted with a pickled grape, makes a delightful aperitif to sip while you’re making your wine selection. On the food menu, glistening anchovies are neatly placed beside hunks of sourdough and a generous slab of butter, while charcuterie and cheese plates showcasing the likes of finocchiona, chorizo and Westcombe cheddar come with crackers and apricot jam. Don’t miss the legendary toasties – our favourite being the spicy ‘nduja-stuffed number complete with crunchy cheese skirt. sagerandwilde.com Crate Brewery, Hackney Wick – for beer and pizza If you love beer and you love pizza, Crate Brewery in Hackney Wick is the best place to visit. The stone-baked pizzas are topped with unusual ingredients including a veggie Kashmiri dal and a middle eastern lamb. As you’d expect, beer is a real focus. Each week there’s a selection of guest bottles from a fruity brown ale to a dark Indian pale ale as well as regular casks and kegs of zingy lemon gose, velvety Crate stout and a crisp Crate cider. cratebrewery.com Click here for the best places to eat pizza in London A Bar With Shapes For A Name– for cocktails The name of Remy Savage and Paul Lougrat’s Bauhaus-inspired bar takes pictorial form – the signage on Dalston’s Kingsland Road featuring a yellow triangle, red square and blue circle. If that sounds a little complicated then rest assured once you step into the bar – colloquially referred to as Shapes – everything takes a decidedly more minimalist turn. Inside, bare bones interiors look more akin to a science classroom than anything else, with bartenders flitting around in brightly coloured jumpsuits. The drinks list at Shapes is pleasingly pithy – just seven house cocktails and six bottled cocktails. The martini-style Habanero is an ingenious affair, using a distillate made from yellow habanero peppers that delivers all the vegetal flavours of the pepper minus the heat – funky and savoury, with a zingy Campari jelly garnish. The xscold is a surprising twist on a marg – here, eucalyptus adds a menthol edge to the herbaceous flavours of Amarás espadin mezcal and Ocho 8 tequila for a refreshing agave treat. From the bottled cocktails, a manhattan uses Buffalo Trace bourbon fat washed in olive oil, and a turmeric distillate, for a boozy whisky cocktail with dried date notes and fruity, earthy richness. clubbauhaus.com Barge East, Hackney Wick – for a Sunday roast on the water Nestled among Hackney Wick's trendy warehouses and cocktail bars, Barge East is a floating kitchen and bar on the Regent’s Canal, housed in a 125-year-old Dutch barge. The restaurant, with its open kitchen, boasts seasonal menus crafted by chefs using top-notch produce, from fresh Cornish monkfish to homegrown ingredients like loquat for its Tidal Sour cocktail. F or a memorable Sunday roast, go for the three-course set menu (£39) featuring three meat options (Aberdeen Angus beef, Norfolk marshland lamb leg, Suffolk Red Bruntona pork belly) with an abundance of trimmings. Add on decadent sides like four-cheese truffle cauliflower and honey mustard glazed pigs in blankets to your order. Barge East's superb sustainable food is complemented by attentive staff, who are happy to recommend wine pairings. bargeeast.com Marquee Moon – for a vibrant restaurant-cum-cocktail bar If you’re seeking a vibrant venue in Dalston that perfectly marries exceptional cuisine with a lively atmosphere, look no further than The Marquee Moon, the latest venture from the creative minds behind The Cause and All My Friends. This trendy establishment boasts an eclectic sharing menu that puts a fresh twist on contemporary pub classics, all with a nod to East Asian flavours. The Marquee Moon is a feast for the senses. Begin your evening in the stylish downstairs area, where you can indulge in melt-in-the-mouth sambal short ribs and an impressive portion of dan dan noodles. As the night progresses the vibe shifts seamlessly into a dance party, complemented by the expertly crafted cocktails. Don’t miss the Hot Alfonso Marg, a true standout, made with reposado tequila vacuum-sealed with Alphonso mangoes and cooked sous vide to extract their rich flavour. It’s then expertly mixed with manzanilla, agave, lime and a sprinkle of Tajín for a cocktail that’s as balanced as it is delicious. Whether you’re dining or dancing, The Marquee Moon promises an unforgettable experience. themarqueemoon.uk Photography: James Moyle (Marquis Moon) Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in Paddington
My unexpected journey through Norway's fjords – saunas, seafood and striking views
Immerse yourself in nature and dive into the pristine, rugged beauty of Norway's western fjords
For more inspiring travel stories, check out a scenic journey through Cape Cod by bike, or the highlands of Peru by luxury sleeper train. Juggling a black coffee in one hand and a cinnamon bun in the other, I look out across the ripples our boat is creating as it moves through the reflective waters of Hjørundfjord, and realise why Norwegians head to the fjords for restoration. The quiet in this particular valley is paired with a soaring, rugged beauty. Around its edges it’s not unusual to see people diving into the water or climbing up its peaks. These wellness rituals – which encompass saunas too, of course – are themselves a wonderful match for a local food philosophy that brings people together over flatbreads, rich stews and bowls of cloudberries and lingonberries foraged on mountain hikes. For a true taste of Norway – and to get up close with the country’s enviable bounty of seafood – the striking western fjords are the place to explore. Whether you’re arriving via Oslo or from the UK (flights are around five hours via Amsterdam), the views heading into the colourful, art nouveau port town of Ålesund will awe you. It’s from the sky that you’ll get the truest sense of the place, gazing down at countless islands and islets in the Norwegian Sea below. It’s the ideal springboard for a five- to seven-day trip, hopping from place to place, immersing yourself in the sublime landscapes and raw beauty of this extraordinary part of the world. For a first meal that sets you up for a fjordic escape, book a table at Sjøbua. Taking over a handful of former fishing warehouses on the edge of the harbour, the restaurant leans into its history, serving some of the finest seafood on the west coast. One of the local catches is clipfish and you’ll find it here in its traditional form: salted and served as a croquette. The kitchen also crisps up its skin as an accompaniment to goat’s cheese and grayling roe. Order the prawns from nearby Midsund too. Naturally sweet and complex thanks to the ice-cold waters they’re caught in, they’re served simply with duxelles and burnt cream. The kitchen’s hero dish of halibut terrine with green peppers, white wine sauce and potato cakes is a polished take on a homely classic. The next morning is an opportunity for your first cinnamon bun fix. The best I tried were at Butikken, an eye-catching, sage-green coffee shop and deli. Part of the lovely harbour side Brosundet hotel, it’s the place to grab a box of buns to go as an afternoon indulgence, as breakfast at the hotel is enormous and varied. Among prettily presented cereals, meat, fish and bread, you’ll find the Norwegian delicacy of brunost, a brown cheese. Made from caramelised whey, brown cheese is more sweet than savoury, with a pleasant malty, fudgy taste that pairs well with waffles and raspberry jam. Another morning regular you’re likely to spy is kaviar, a salty roe paste that comes in a toothpaste-like tube. I squeezed some on half a hard-boiled egg but even the Norwegians around us admitted it’s an acquired taste. From then on I stuck to the waffles. From Ålesund, the closest fjord is Hjørundfjord, an uncrowded yet dramatic valley in the shadow of the towering Sunnmøre Alps. From a boat, the views impress whatever the weather: in winter the mountainsides transform into ski slopes, while spring and summer draw your eyes to the magnificent waterfalls and across to charming yellow and red wooden houses dotted along the water. The walking and biking routes along this valley are also much loved by locals – just remember to pack a bar of Kvikk Lunsj (which translates as ‘quick lunch’) in your coat pocket. Like a KitKat but better, it’s excellent hiking fuel. Spend time with some Norwegians and you’ll quickly see how much food – and the rituals around serving and entertaining – matters. Sometimes this is by necessity: the harsh winters mean there’s a reverence around hot drinks. These rituals are honoured at Union Øye, a wonderfully atmospheric 19th-century hotel at the end of one of Hjørundfjord’s passageways. As well as its gloriously grandiose interiors (think four-poster beds, roll-top baths and constant candlelight), a huge reason to stay here is its wooden sauna which floats on the fjord. Even in summer, diving into the water can be bracing – which makes the hotel’s signature hot chocolates, made with cognac, hand-whipped cream and squares of Freia Melkesjokolade chocolate, a welcome treat any day of the year. Come evening, its Palm Room bar serves a wonderfully sharp and bitter negroni, made using the local aquavit – a twist on tradition that’s well worth staying up late for. Another important stop-off around this part of Norway is Skarbø, a cider and cheese farm run by husband and wife team Kristine and Carlos. As the oldest daughter, Kristine inherited her family’s eighth-generation farm beneath Smørhylla mountain and she’s quietly set about turning its produce into an award-winning brand that’s now served in many of the fjords’ best restaurants and hotels. The farm shop is open year-round but in summer the pair hosts tours, cider tastings and tapas evenings at the farm. These are held in an atmospheric centuries old outbuilding with a grass roof. Before ducking through the door for lunch I spotted an unusual sculpture hanging on the side of the building. It turned out to be a curved rib of pork, air drying and aging ahead of a family celebration in a couple of months’ time. Inside, among antique crockery and farm tools, we ate steaming bowls of Kristine’s homemade cheese and cider soup. It was one of the most comforting things I’ve had in years and I regret not asking her for the recipe. If Sjøbua is the perfect start to a coastal escape, then The Boathouse is a fitting finale. Run by the team behind the fabulously cosy Storfjord hotel, this restaurant occupies a former hanger down by the fjord’s edge (you can work up an appetite by kayaking from the same dock earlier in the day). Open only on Friday evenings, its long-table group dinners are hosted by the hotel’s head chef Florian Harnisch, who cooks everything solo over an open hearth in front of you. And, wow, he can cook. On the night I dined he pulled together caviar and soured cream blinis; cooked oysters in cream and dill oil; langoustines in a deeply rich bisque topped with pickled pine shoots; bright scallops with cucumber and bergamot; and a fillet of reindeer served with jerusalem artichokes. Back up at the hotel’s main restaurant the fish soup and open prawn sandwiches served are just as refined in their simplicity – and its famed Sunday brunch tables are piled high with everything from gravlax to Norwegian-style fish tacos, all made with local catches. Trust me, after a meal here you’ll be grateful for the hotel’s variety of deep sofas and quiet corners. Your foodie adventure doesn’t have to end here. For a final bite you can order a traditional hot dog, complete with crispy onions and mayo, at Ålesund airport – and then buy all the Moomins biscuits, Minde banana chocolates and blocks of brown cheese you can stuff into your hand luggage. If this trip teaches you anything it’s that you should make snacking a sacred ritual back at home. 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Georgie Mullen’s elegant vegetarian spring menu
Celebrate the arrival of spring with author and creator Georgie Mullen's elegant vegetarian spring menu
As the days grow longer and the weather warms, spring offers a bounty of fresh ingredients perfect for celebrating the season’s renewal. Food writer Georgie Mullen’s spring menu is an elevated tribute to these early harvests, weaving together bright flavours and inventive pairings that capture the essence of spring. For more recipe ideas, check out our March guide on the best seasonal ingredients or explore our other meal plans, including Nisha Parmar’s vibrant sharing menu. Starter Purple sprouting broccoli tempura with wild garlic aïoli Purple sprouting broccoli always feels like a small seasonal celebration, the first signs of green after months of root veg and stews. This recipe works beautifully as a starter or as a snack with a cocktail. It's a little plate of green magic. Drinks Rhubarb and elderflower spritz Forced rhubarb is in season between January and March, and is known for its slender stalks and vibrant pink colour. After March, you'll find outdoor-grown rhubarb, which is available until summer – slightly less vibrant and a little less sweet. For its lively pink colour, I like using forced rhubarb in this cocktail but if you can only find outdoor-grown rhubarb, a small splash of red food colouring in the syrup will help boost the colour. Don't throw the rhubarb purée left in the sieve away – I eat it with yogurt and granola in the morning. Main New potato, raclette and spring onion galette I love making pastry – rubbing the flour and butter between my fingertips might be the most therapeutic job in the kitchen. If you are new to pastry, a galette is a good place to start – they are supposed to look rustic. Dessert White chocolate mousse with poached rhubarb White chocolate and rhubarb are a gorgeous match. The mousse is silky and sweet, balanced by the tart poached rhubarb. You can prepare both the mousse and the poached rhubarb up to three days in advance, making this a perfect pud for hosting.
Spring show-off dishes for the long weekend
Impress your guests with these four spring dishes, from an easy one-pot to a boozy lemon dessert
Long weekends are made for lingering lunches, laidback dinners and dishes worth gathering around. These spring showstoppers brings bold flavours to the table while keeping things low-effort and shareable – think an easy one-pot, punchy roast and build-your-own raclette spread. And, because no celebration is complete without something sweet, there’s a boozy lemon dessert to round things off in style. Discover more recipes for entertaining this season, consider a few unexpected ideas for hosting guests, or replicate private chef Nisha Parmar's vibrant sharing menu for a simple yet impressive three-course dinner at home. Slow-cooked spiced lamb with orzo This effortless one-pot is cooked with fragrant spices of cinnamon and allspice, which don't overpower, but provide gentle warmth. Fresh herbs, feta and lemon lift the finished dish. Bring the platter to the table for maximum wow-factor. Cowboy butter-roasted chicken A punchy butter instantly boosts the flavour of roast chicken. Spatchcocking the bird means it roasts evenly and fast – and, it's much easier to carve for guests. Serve with skinny fries and a vinegary salad to cut through the richness, and don't forget to spoon over all the buttery roasting juices. Raclette party This is a great way to serve a mix-and-match spread for friends. Traditionally, you'd serve raclette simply with boiled potatoes, charcuterie and pickles, but we've added a few extra flourishes to make your guests feel you've worked extra hard! You can buy various raclette sets, but you can also use small heatproof frying pans or dishes. Boozy lemon meringue trifle This zingy spring trifle is made with mostly ready-made ingredients, then finished with marshmallowy Italian meringue. Using hot sugar syrup means the meringue is 'cooked' and becomes much more stable. We think it's worth the extra effort, but if you want a simpler finish, you could pile up some shop-bought meringues and whipped cream instead.
Why I love Western Cape, South Africa's diverse coastal province
Ryan Cole, head chef of fine dining restaurant Salsify in Cape Town, shares what puts South African cuisine on the map
Learn all about what makes the cuisine of this coastal region so special from local chef Ryan Cole. From social barbecues to freshly caught seafood and historic wine regions, there is plenty for foodies to enjoy. Make sure you include a couple of days in the city exploring Cape Town's best restaurants. Want to learn more about regional cuisine? Check out our guides to the cuisines of Kolkta in India, Istria in Croatia, the Nashville in America or Cork in Ireland. Western Cape cuisine: 10 things we love Constantia Wine Route Nestled in the slopes of Table Mountain, the Constantia Wine Route is the oldest wine region in South Africa. Through a combination of varied elevation, a cool climate and granite rich soils, this part of the world is famous for its world-class sauvignon blanc and shiraz. Take part in tastings and tours of the vineyards to take advantage of what this fantastic region has to offer. Vin de Constance It is said that many famous historical figures enjoyed this sweet dessert wine, made only in the Constantia region. Napoleon is said to have enjoyed this beverage while in exile on Saint Helena, and it appears in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility as a cure for a broken heart. This unique wine is definitely one to enjoy when you visit. Local catch As Cape Town is coastal city it is of no surprise that fish features heavily in local restaurant dishes. At my restaurants, Salsify and COY, fish is prominent on the menu and is caught by me or my brother Donovan, ensuring freshness and ethical sourcing. Tuna fishing is a significant industry in Hout Bay, with yellowfin, longfin, bigeye and skipjack varieties in the area. In the calmer bays near Simon’s Town and Kalk Bay you’ll find squid and reef fish. Biltong Originating in South Africa, biltong has in recent years been growing in popularity around the world. Commonly made with beef or game like springbok, this easy way of air drying and curing meat dates back centuries, and to the indigenous South African people. Whether enjoyed as an everyday snack, a day out essential or a lovely addition to a charcuterie, biltong is always readily available, and you can easily make your own. Springbok Springbok, South Africa’s national animal, is a popular game meat that’s lean and tender, comparable to veal or filet mignon. The best way to taste this is seasoned simply and cooked over a braai. You can also buy it as sausages or in biltong form. Braai Originating from the Afrikaans language, braai translates simply to ‘barbecue’ or ‘grill’ but the braai itself is so much more than that and deeply rooted in South African culture. It’s very much a social event meant to bring together friends and family around the open fire. At the heart of every braai is the meat, best cooked after being marinated for at least an hour in a range of herbs and spices. Roosterkoek A braai is not complete without its side dishes. Roosterkoek are small South African rolls cooked on a braai grid over the coals, served hot with plenty of butter. The word roosterkoek literally translates to bread cooked over fire. Made with a few simple ingredients these little pockets of dough are crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. Boerewors Arguably one of the most popular foods in South Africa, boerewors is a beef sausage with strict guidelines on its making process. It must contain 90% meat to count as boerewors, with the remaining 10% being made up of herbs and spices like cloves, nutmeg and coriander, or sometimes other meat like lamb and pork. Of course, these are a staple for the braai. International influence With a long history of colonialism, South Africa’s food influence can be traced to many different African and European countries. Cape Dutch and Cape Malay are two of the main styles, focusing heavily on meat dishes, often cooked on the braai. Cape Town is arguably one of the best cities to find South Africa’s full range of dishes and influences, with a combination of traditional high-end dining establishments and a big street food culture. Street food and markets Cape Town is excellent at embracing street food culture, as seen through popular food markets like Oranjezicht City Farm Market and Neighbourgoods Market. These markets bring together the best of local farmers, chefs and suppliers for a uniquely casual take on South African cuisine. You’ll find burgers, tapas and the famous Gatsby – a giant sandwich filled with meat or fish, chips and sauces. 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Where to visit in April: from spring gardens in the UK to US food festivals
From Cornish seafood festivals to floating through the fjords of Norway, here's our pick of where to travel this month
Need some ideas on where to go on holiday in April? Check out our pick of destinations for a food lover’s break this spring, including a city break in Portugal, tulips in the Netherlands and a Cornish seafood festival. For more travel inspiration, check out our picks of the best spring holidays or the best European city breaks. The UK at its best: Cornwall For a UK escape that combines coastal scenery with serious food credentials, few places rival Cornwall in spring. The tiny harbour village of Porthleven comes alive during the Porthleven Food Festival (24–26 April). More than 150 local producers and chefs (including Josh Eggleton, Jude Kereama and Tom Brown) descend on the harbour for demos, workshops and street-food stalls, with live music in the evenings. Drive half an hour across the county to base yourself in St Ives. Start the day at Brine for inventive brunch dishes overlooking the harbour – we love the Jaffle toastie, stuffed with fresh crab, Singapore chilli sauce and cheese. For relaxed small plates and cocktails with sunset views, try Silco Bar & Kitchen, while Porthmeor Beach Café pairs bold, spice-forward cooking with sweeping sea views. If you have time for a short coastal drive, book a table at the celebrated The Gurnard’s Head, a characterful pub known for beautifully cooked local fish and seasonal Cornish produce. Check out our full guide to the best restaurants in St Ives for more. The UK bolthole: The Bath Priory, Bath In a leafy part of Bath sits this impressive Georgian house, offering old-fashioned hospitality with wide appeal. Behind the ivy-clad building is a vast, not-so-secret garden that is the perfect spot for relaxing in April, featuring a spectacular Lebanon cedar tree, croquet lawn, sunken pond and kitchen garden growing herbs, edible flowers, fruit and veg destined for the dining room. Spring is when the wisteria-covered terrace shines, the perfect spot for taking afternoon tea. You can also order a picnic hamper to enjoy in the gardens, with a bottle of English sparkling wine. You'll have views of the garden at dinner too. Chef Jauca Catalin’s imaginative menu celebrates seasonal, local produce with some surprising Asian touches: a crab starter is teamed with lime confit, mooli and chilli peanut caramel; wild turbot is a complex dish of scallop mousse, caviar and miso and kombu tea. At breakfast there is a traditional approach, with eggs royale, benedict and florentine, alongside the full English and a fluffy omelette arnold bennett. Bedrooms are designed for comfort and relaxation, with period furniture, florals and tartan adding warmth to neutral décor. Rooms start at £275 per night including breakfast, based on two sharing. Check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk The seasonal city break: Porto, Portgual Portugal is one of Europe's sunniest destinations, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, so skip the April showers and head for a city break in Porto. Base yourself in the arty neighbourhood of Cedofeita, a network of cobbled streets brimming with independent shops, tavernas and bars. Browse the neighbourhood's galleries before seeking out sunny terraces to soak up the lively atmosphere – an olive tree provides shade for locals catching up over a glass of wine at Aduela, while Restaurante a Taska serves a great value set lunch of hearty Portuguese traditional dishes under the jacaranda trees, which bloom bright purple in spring so you can dine under the blossom. No-frills bistros in the quieter residential streets include Adega Do Carregal and Lareira – chef Pedro Braga's Mito has a fancier feel for contemporary sharing dishes. Hole-in-the-wall Generosa Pão e Pizza churns out hunky cinnamon rolls and pizza slices all day, to provide sustenance before an evening of wines by the glass at local hub Genuíno wine bar. Stay at Rosa et Al Townhouse, a six-room hotel, which is a lesson in boutique design – rooms blessed with original wooden floorboards, cornicing and sash windows that lead to balconies. Doubles from £111, check availability at booking.com. The cultural moment: Nashville, USA April is a busy time to be in Nashville, with plenty of festivals to visit – from the annual East Nashville Beer Festival to the Cherry Blossom Festival or Music City Food & Wine Festival. Every corner of Nashville pulses with live music and street food – tuck into The Grilled Cheeserie’s famous cheese toasties or sample from the eclectic range of cuisines at Assembly Food Hall in downtown Nashville. Biscuit Love is where to head for buttermilk biscuits topped with the likes of spicy fried chicken, local sausage gravy or berries and butter toffee syrup. Visit Butcher & Bee for unique meze dishes and standout burgers using locally grown ingredients. Before you leave, Nashville hot chicken is a must. Get it at Hattie B's, where the extra brave should try the ‘shut the cluck up’ spice level. The sleek double rooms at stylish Noelle provide a calm oasis from the buzz of the city, despite being close to Broadway and the heart of the action. Rooms have plush king-size beds, custom furniture and luxurious bathrooms. Make sure you leave enough time to visit Rare Bird, the rooftop bar and lounge, for a golden hour cocktail. Doubles from £237 at noelle-nashville.com, booking.com or expedia.co.uk The culinary destination to explore: Western Cape, South Africa Fly south to Cape Africa to enjoy world-renowned wine, barbecue and fresh seafood. Nestled in the slopes of Table Mountain, the Constantia Wine Route is the oldest wine region in South Africa, famous for its world-class sauvignon blanc and shiraz. Visit Buitenverwachting, renowned for its elegant wines, beautiful lawns and gardens, and wonderful hospitality. Enjoy casual charcuterie with wine pairings and picnics on the lawn, or have a full dining experience at the restaurant, with a focus on local ingredients, farmers and producers. Cape Town's coastal location ensures fish features heavily in local restaurant dishes. Tuna fishing is a significant industry in Hout Bay, with yellowfin, longfin, bigeye and skipjack varieties in the area. In the calmer bays near Simon’s Town and Kalk Bay you’ll find squid and reef fish. Salsify at the Round House has sweeping views of the Atlantic and Lion’s Head and all the fish in the restaurant is caught by chef Ryan Cole and his brother Donovan. It's not just all fine dining – Cape Town is excellent at embracing street food culture, as seen through popular food markets like Oranjezicht City Farm Market and Neighbourgoods Market. These markets bring together the best of local farmers, chefs and suppliers for a uniquely casual take on South African cuisine. You’ll find burgers, tapas and the famous Gatsby – a giant sandwich filled with meat or fish, chips and sauces. The boutique retreat: AS Boutique Hotel, Ljubljana, Slovenia Nestled into leafy Knafljev passage, this contemporary boutique hotel is built atop family-run dining institution Gostilna AS, right in the centre of the Slovenian capital. Designed to reflect the style of buildings in the Alpine north, the striking steel structure is entwined with plants in keeping with the area’s green status. The artistic focus continues inside, with a chic library and lounge area, walls lined with Slovenian pop art and contemporary light installations. The owner’s art collection adorns the 30 smart rooms, along with walnut wood panelling and bespoke corrugated wardrobes. Almost all have balconies that look onto pretty rooftops, many offering glimpses of the castle perched above. The Castle Exclusive room boasts uninterrupted views of the landmark, not only from the floor-to-ceiling windows but also reflected in the glass encasing an intricate wrought iron bedframe. There are multiple on-site restaurants to choose from: original Gostilna AS is the most traditional, with its atmospheric brick-lined room and sweeping walnut tree-shaded terrace both desirable spaces to enjoy elegant seafood-forward menus featuring grilled shrimp, tuna tartare, pulled veal cheek and strawberry cake. JAZ is highly acclaimed chef Ana Roš’s bistro-style spot, where playful creations showcase Slovenia’s rich bounty. Catering to a lively local crowd, Pop’s Aperitivo plays to Slovenia’s neighbouring Italian influence with casual pizza and pasta dishes, cherry negronis and olive oil fat-washed Italicus spritzes. Doubles from £222, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The alternative choice: Utrecht, Netherlands If you’ve already ticked Amsterdam off your list it is now time to explore more of the Netherlands and plan a spring city break to Utrecht. One of the Netherlands' oldest cities, it offers tree-lined canals, a charming personality and buzzy café culture – plus, proximity to the famous Dutch flower fields, with the flowers in full bloom from March to May. For top-notch seafood, visit the huge atrium dining room in Vis en Meer and order a seafood platter from the lively open kitchen. Dutch colonial history means The Netherlands also has a thriving Indonesian food scene with excellent cooking and BLAUW, serving Indonesian rice tables, is worth a visit. For drinks, Talud9 is a coffee bar by day and wine bar by night, all delivered in a pretty period warehouse on the canal. Eye Hotel is a smart boutique hotel in the centre of the city. Housed in an ancient eye hospital (hence the name), rooms have a Scandinavian feel with light and bright decor and a variety of room sizes to choose from (doubles from £109 per night, check availability at booking.com or expedia.com). Amsterdam is just a 20-minute train ride away, in case you haven't been and want to combine two flower-filled city breaks in one. The scenic pick: Tokyo, Japan Japan's cherry blossom season is famous around the world and while the precise best time to visit depends each year on the weather, most cherry blossom festivals begin around the end of March and can last well into the month of May. Visit Tokyo for plenty of scenic opportunities along with a jam-packed food scene, from super-fresh sushi to Michelin-starred ramen at Tsuta. Katsu fanatics should head to Mai Sen for their signature tonkatsu that attracts queues, whilst family-run Kyubey is the place for high-quality sushi. Soak up contemporary Japanese design with a stay at stylish OMO5 Otsuka. Situated on the third floor of a sky-high modern building, there are 125 rooms with an upmarket hostel feel. The OMO Café specialises in vol-au-vents for breakfast and lunch, alongside pastries made on site, all served with OMO speciality coffee. Head out with one of OMO’s 'rangers' for a foodie tour of the local area. Tailored around specific niches, you can choose between a local brewery crawl, a tour specialising in nostalgic Showa-style food, and one highlighting the hippest foodie spots in the neighbourhood. Doubles from £99 per night, check availability at omo-hotels.com, <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100565798-11795693?sid=olivemagazine-170784&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fjp%2Fxing-ye-rizoto-omo5-da-zhong.en-gb.html%3Faid%3D811995%26label%3Daffnetcj-11795693_pub-5306979_site-100565798_pname-Immediate%2BMedia_clkid-olivemagazine-227169_cjevent-f7b6293e1bb611f182e302470a18b8fa%26utm_source%3Daffnetcj%26utm_medium%3Dbannerindex%26utm_campaign%3Dgb%26utm_term%3Dindex-11795693" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">booking.com or <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100565798-13852770?sid=olivemagazine-170784&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expedia.co.uk%2FTokyo-Hotels-Hoshino-Resorts-OMO5-Tokyo-Otsuka.h20577295.Hotel-Information%3Faffcid%3Duk.network.cj.100565798%26cjevent%3D01d6e1901bb711f1809e02380a18b8fb%26affdtl%3DCJ.01d6e1901bb711f1809e02380a18b8fb.13852770.olivemagazine-227169%26button_referral_source%3Dother" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">expedia.com. The slow travel adventure: Norway’s fjords Few places capture the spirit of slow travel quite like Norway’s fjords. In April, as winter loosens its grip, the landscape feels especially magical: waterfalls swell with snowmelt, the days grow longer and the jagged peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps are often still dusted with snow. On the glassy waters of Hjørundfjord, boats glide quietly across the reflective surface while red and yellow wooden houses dot the shoreline below towering mountains. The art nouveau harbour town of Ålesund makes an ideal base for exploring the western fjords over five to seven days. Travelling in spring means fewer visitors and a more peaceful atmosphere, perfect for drifting through the landscape by boat, bike or on foot and stopping in small villages and farming communities along the way. Food is central to life here. At Sjøbua, set inside former fishing warehouses on the harbour, the kitchen celebrates local seafood with dishes such as salted clipfish croquettes, sweet prawns from nearby Midsund and halibut terrine. Mornings might begin with cinnamon buns and strong coffee from Butikken, before setting out along fjordside trails — ideally with a bar of Kvikk Lunsj in your pocket. To embrace the local rhythm, end the day with a sauna overlooking the fjord before plunging into the icy water — a bracing but invigorating ritual that feels especially rewarding in Norway’s crisp spring air. The blow-out trip: Mexico City, Mexico We named Mexico City as one of our global cities that should be on everyone's bucket list and in April temperatures are still warm and dry, with the purple jacaranda trees coming into bloom. You'll want to set aside five or so days if you want to really get around the city's world-class restaurants. We suggest starting at Central de Abasto food market. It’s where 80 per cent of CDMX’s ingredients come from, so is a great spot to immerse yourself in the colours, flavours and scents of the scene, trying fresh guava and cactus as you go. Our favourite breakfast comes from Fonda Margarita, a no-frills café under a corrugated iron roof where diners can start their day with frijoles refritos con huevos (fried corn tortillas, cheese, beans, salsa and eggs), churros and hot sweet coffee. For a definitive high-end Mexican restaurant experience, book a table at Contramar in Roma Norte, which opened in 1998. Famous for its showstopping dessert trays, chef Gabriela Cámara’s buzzy kitchen turns out the likes of whole fish – butterflied, grilled and painted with parsley sauce on one side and smoky red adobo on the other – in a beautiful blue dining room. Another hero dish is its tuna tostada, which comes topped with chipotle aïoli and sushi-grade tuna. More travel inspiration... The small towns across the UK every foodie should visit The UK's best pubs with rooms UK boutique hotels for food lovers 10 exciting UK city breaks for food lovers Best restaurants with rooms UK spa hotels for food lovers Best romantic UK hotels Best seaside staycations Best country hotels
Wind down into the perfect slow Sunday with iHerb’s best wellness essentials
Upgrade your Sunday wind-down with carefully selected wellness essentials from iHerb.
Whether it’s a soothing bath, a warm cup of herbal tea, or gentle supplements, these small rituals can help make your slow Sunday feel more indulgent and restorative. You might also have asked yourself: “Is there a vitamin that calms you?” or “what supplements can ease anxiety?”. While no vitamin replaces medical care for anxiety, ingredients like magnesium, L-theanine and ashwagandha have been studied for their role in supporting normal psychological function, promoting everyday calm, and the body’s natural response to stress when included as part of a balanced lifestyle. With this in mind, here’s a curated line-up of slow Sunday essentials from iHerb to help you create your most relaxing weekend yet. Discover wellness favourites from iHerb and enjoy 20% off Supporting your wellbeing often comes down to small, consistent habits. From the supplements you take each day to the rituals that help you relax and recharge, choosing the right products can help make your routine feel easier. At iHerb, you’ll find a wide range of wellness highlights designed to support everyday health. Whether it's calming supplements or skincare treats, there are plenty of options to help you build a routine that works for you. Spend £60 or more and enjoy 20% off your order using the code OLIVEUK. Browse iHerb’s wellness selection and save on your order today. Which vitamins are good for relaxing? Several nutrients are commonly associated with supporting relaxation and emotional balance: Magnesium contributes to normal psychological function and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. L-theanine is often used in food supplements designed to promote relaxation without drowsiness. Ashwagandha is traditionally used in herbal practice, and research suggests it may help the body respond to everyday stress. Probiotics are increasingly studied for their connection to the gut-brain axis and mood. While research is ongoing, these supplements may support a calm routine when combined with good sleep, balanced nutrition and stress-management habits. Top vitamins and wellness picks for slow days Dr. Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution, Lavender A warm bath is one of the simplest ways to signal to your body that it’s time to switch off. This lavender-scented Epsom salt soak dissolves easily into bathwater, creating a soothing at-home spa moment that fits perfectly into a slow Sunday ritual. What does it do? Epsom salt provides magnesium sulphate for bathing, while the lavender fragrance helps create a calming sensory experience. What is it good for? Ideal for relaxing baths, post-exercise soaks and anyone looking to build a restful evening routine. Buy Dr. Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution now Idealove Superfood Skin Savior Beauty Masks Variety Pack Sheet masks offer a low-effort self-care step when you want to unwind without overthinking your routine. This variety pack features skin-loving ingredients designed to leave skin feeling hydrated and refreshed after use. What does it do? Each mask delivers a concentrated serum to the skin, offering a cooling, pampering experience. What is it good for? Perfect for at-home spa evenings, pre-bed wind-down time or pairing with a relaxing bath. Buy Idealove Superfood Skin Savior Masks now Traditional Medicinals Organic chamomile and lavender tea Few rituals feel as calming as a warm herbal tea. This naturally caffeine-free blend combines chamomile and lavender, botanicals traditionally associated with relaxation. What does it do? Provides a gentle, caffeine-free herbal infusion that may help support a calm bedtime routine. What is it good for? Best enjoyed in the evening or whenever you want a soothing alternative to caffeinated drinks. Buy Traditional Medicinals Chamomile and Lavender Tea now Thorne Magnesium CitraMate capsules Not every Wellness Sunday ritual needs to involve candles or long routines. Sometimes it’s as simple as supporting your body with the nutrients it uses every day. Magnesium is one of the most searched supplements to calm the nervous system. These magnesium capsules combine citrate and malate forms for a well-absorbed option that fits easily into a calm, consistent wellness routine. What does it do? Provides magnesium in citrate and malate forms that may help support normal muscle and nerve function, as well as energy production. What is it good for? A good option for those looking to support relaxation, muscle recovery and overall daily wellbeing as part of a steady self-care routine. Buy Thorne Magnesium CitraMate capsules now Four Sigmatic Focus organic coffee with lion’s mane and chaga If your slow Sunday still includes a morning brew, this mushroom coffee offers a gentler alternative to standard blends. It combines organic coffee with functional mushrooms often used in wellness routines. What does it do? Provides coffee with added mushroom ingredients that research suggests may support focus and cognitive wellness. What is it good for? Ideal for coffee lovers who want a smoother start to the day before transitioning into a relaxed afternoon. Buy Four Sigmatic Focus Mushroom Coffee now California Gold Nutrition ashwagandha Ashwagandha is a well-known adaptogenic herb in traditional Ayurvedic practice. It’s often included in supplements aimed at supporting resilience to everyday stress. What does it do? Provides ashwagandha root extract, traditionally used to support the body’s stress response. What is it good for? Best suited to those looking to complement a balanced lifestyle focused on stress management and wellbeing. Buy California Gold Nutrition Ashwagandha now Centrum Adults' multivitamins Sometimes the foundations matter most. A broad multivitamin can help cover nutritional gaps that may otherwise contribute to tiredness or low energy. What does it do? Delivers a range of essential vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins that contribute to normal energy metabolism and psychological function. What is it good for? A practical daily baseline for adults wanting convenient nutritional support. Buy Centrum Adults’ Multivitamins now California Gold Nutrition CollagenUP Not all slow Sunday rituals are about capsules. This collagen powder blends easily into water, smoothies or your favourite drinks, making it a simple addition to your daily wellness routine. What does it do? Provides hydrolysed marine collagen peptides alongside vitamin C and hyaluronic acid in a convenient powder format designed to mix easily into drinks. What is it good for? Ideal for anyone looking to support their skin, hair and joint health, or for those building a more consistent wellness routine. Buy California Gold Nutrition CollagenUP now Garden of Life Dr Formulated Probiotics Mood+ Interest in the gut-brain connection continues to grow, and targeted probiotics are increasingly included in mood-support routines. What does it do? Provides live probiotic strains formulated for digestive and microbiome support. What is it good for? Suitable for those exploring the link between gut health and overall wellbeing. Buy Garden of Life Mood+ Probiotics now Nutricost L-Theanine L-theanine, naturally found in tea leaves, is widely used in supplements designed to promote relaxation without causing drowsiness. What does it do? Supplies L-theanine, an amino acid commonly included in calming supplement formulas. What is it good for? Popular with those in search of a calm, focused state during work, study or quiet weekend routines. Buy Nutricost L-Theanine now This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
Maunika Gowardhan's joyous Keralan dishes
Discover Maunika Gowardhan's mouthwatering recipes, inspired by her travels in Kerala
One of the most stunning regions within southern India is undoubtedly the state of Kerala. Most people I speak to who have visited always rave about the scenic views, food, culture and the local people. My first trip and introduction to the Malayali community was at the age of 12 when I made a trip to travel with family and friends across the city. Ever since, I have been so many times to explore the city, cuisine and also, by chance, for a family wedding. Seeing the varied communities within one region including Christians, Muslims and Hindus, and the differences in cooking styles, fascinates me. For instance, the Malayali Hindus have a unique cooking style with recipes and traditions which include religious practices that differ to the Christian and Muslim communities in Kerala. The prevalence of cooking fish, meat or poultry within the coastal region have come from the culinary influences of the Christian and Muslim families. A region renowned for its use of black pepper in curries and stir-fried dishes much before chillies made an entry into India. For me, delving into Syrian Christian cooking holds joyous memories as a young girl. I always turned to Mariam, a lovely lady who left Kerala to join our family home and brought along with her an abundance of local knowledge and recipes that I have adored. This in its truest form is where my love for (and introduction to) Kerala and its people began. She used to cook the most delicious avial (potato curry) and plenty of fish, as well as meat curries, too. She would share stories of her hometown and how they grew local veg, went fishing and ground spices. I could listen for ages and that is one of the reasons I thoroughly enjoy visiting Kerala even today. Maunika Gowardhan's Keralan dishes Kerala fish moilee This is best made with fish steaks, which are held together with the help of a centre bone and ensure the fish stays intact (ask the fishmonger to do this). If you can’t get steaks, chunky fillets will work. Nadan chicken peralan Last year during my travels in Kerala, I ate this chicken peralan and loved the flavours. Most family homes I’ve eaten this dish at have cooked the chicken separately to the gravy, although I prefer to make it all at the same time rather than in stages. Chicken peralan has heat, so tailor the level of spice based on how much you prefer. Vinegar, pepper and fennel add so much flavour, as well as a gorgeous aroma while complementing spices such as mustard seeds and curry leaves. Serve with rice, paratha or pathiri. Thakkali pachadi Delicious tomato chutney with chilli, coconut and curry leaves. Traditionally this pachadi is eaten with soft dosai or as part of a feast. Discover more of Maunika Gowardhan's crowd-pleasing recipes below: Chole palak (spiced chickpea curry) Vegetable raita Rajma tikki Sindhi dhal pakwan Chilli paneer fry Lamb chop curry Tarka dhal Goan prawn and coconut pie Nankhatai (cardamom biscuits)
West Hampstead restaurants: a local shares her favourite spots
Discover where to eat and drink in West Hampstead, from a local Parisian restaurant to a retro 1970s cocktail bar
Looking for the best places to eat in West Hampstead and the surrounding area? Local resident and expert Bettina Campolucci Bordi shared her must-visit recommendations, from a neighbourhood deli stocking St John baked goods to a weekly farmer's market. For more London food recommendations, check out our reviews of the best restaurants in Notting Hill, best restaurants in Marylebone and best restaurants in Paddington. West Hampstead is one of those neighbourhoods that just works – it’s got great food, brilliant independent shops, proper community vibes and you’re close enough to Hampstead Heath to escape London without actually leaving it. People chat, shopkeepers remember you and everything you need is within walking distance, which, for me, is the dream. Food is always how I connect to a place, and West Hampstead delivers. We’re lucky to be surrounded by small, independently run spots where the owners genuinely care about what they’re doing and, over time, many of them have become part of our everyday routine. What I love most about West Hampstead is how well connected it is with the tube, London Overground and Thameslink trains but also how it feels – it’s the people, independents, easy access to green space. It feels like this is a neighbourhood built around community which, when you live in a big city like London, can be hard to come by. Tannin & Oak A true local gem. This is our go-to wine bar and the kind of place that you end up staying longer at than planned. The owners and sommeliers really know their stuff but there’s zero intimidation – just great wine and conversation, and a very friendly crowd. It’s perfect after a long day and also brilliant if you’re on your own because everyone is so welcoming. It also does a generous champagne pour when you feel like celebrating! tanninandoak.com French Society A relatively new opening that we were very excited about, and it hasn’t disappointed. French-inspired dishes that are comforting, generous and delicious without being fussy. It’s already become one of those places we suggest when we don’t want to overthink dinner but still want to eat really well – and it’s close to home. frenchsociety.co.uk Hampstead Food & Drinks This Bulgarian shop is special to me. I buy my feta, brilliant yogurts and all sorts of treats here that instantly transport me back to childhood summers spent in Bulgaria. My mum is half Bulgarian and stepping inside always brings back those memories. Food has a funny way of doing that. hampsteadfood.co.uk Bobby Fitzpatrick Pure 1970s fun – great playlist, retro interiors and cocktails that don’t take themselves too seriously. A perfect spot when you want a great atmosphere and buzzing cocktails. bobbyf.co.uk Grocery Post I call this our posh corner shop and it’s dangerously close to our house. Part deli, part coffee shop, it stocks St John baked goods and Happy Endings ice cream sandwiches (The Gay One is my favourite). It’s the kind of place you pop into quickly and end up leaving with far more than planned. grocerypost.com West Hampstead Farmer's Market Saturday mornings usually involve a wander around the farmers’ market. It’s where we pick up seasonal produce and stop by The Source Bulk Foods for all our dry goods as well as refills of dishwashing liquid, multi-cleaner, loose coffee and, inevitably, chocolate-covered almonds. It makes food shopping feel intentional rather than rushed. It takes me a good couple of hours, as I always stop for chats and catch-ups with the different stall holders, which I love. lfm.org.uk/markets/westhampstead Intermission Coffee Some of the best coffee in the area and it gives back to the community too, which makes it even better. A proper local favourite and a great place to start the day, usually before having a wander around the Saturday market. intermission.coffee Al Arez A new Lebanese spot that’s become a family favourite – generous portions, brilliant pickles and loads of small plates that make it perfect for a proper pick-and-mix meal. We order a bit of everything and pile it into the middle. It also does seriously good-quality kebabs and other more substantial main dishes. alarez.co.uk Kiyoto Sushi Bar Really good sushi that’s quick, super tasty and hits the spot. It’s the takeaway we’ll order if I’ve had a particularly busy week and the last thing I feel like doing is cooking. kiyotosushi.co.uk/ location/west-hampstead Discover more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington Best restaurants in Camden
Discover our favourite London hotel bars, from contemporary drinking dens to venues that exude old-school glamour
Looking for the best London hotel bars? I've been olive's drinks writer for the past eight years, and trust me when I say that London has some of the best hotel bars in the world. With cutting-edge mixology, iconic cocktails and opulent environments, many have become destinations in their own right. And with that in mind, I've curated a list of the best ones to visit right now, from sleek Mayfair outfits to funky Shoreditch drinking dens. You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to seeking out a classy drink or two. Don't forget to check this guide for updates, as I'll be refreshing it with new openings and must-visit favourites. Now, find out the best dining experiences in London, best restaurants in London with a view and the best food and drink festivals to visit. We also have our round-up of the best London pubs for food lovers. If you like your cocktail served with stellar sound systems, discover our favourite listening bars in London. The best London hotel bars to visit Gambit Bar at the Newman Hotel, Fitzrovia Located underneath The Newman hotel, down the staircase and through a grand mirrored hallway, is suave subterranean venue Gambit. The plush interior is inspired by the abstract geometric forms of Percy Wyndham Lewis's vorticist movement – evident in an elegantly coffered ceiling and swirling burr veneer front running the length of the copper-topped bar. Cosy green booths and high-top seats line the room, creating a warm, relaxed feel. Head of food and drink Eder Neto has created a refined menu. Signature cocktails showcase high-quality ingredients with an understated touch – such as the earthy Angels and Demons, made with butter-infused tequila, Campari and blood orange; and the tropical, subtly creamy Excitement and Fate, with white rum, pineapple and shiso. Classic drinks are of course available too and our sazerac was boozy and carefully made, as it should be. Bar snacks include superb castelvetrano olives, light goat's cheese gougères and nutty västerbotten cheese croquettes with a delicately curried remoulade. A special mention must go to the fact that all signature cocktails are available in alcohol-free versions that maintain the character and complexity of the originals. It's a lovely touch and one that we'd love to see adopted at more bars that are serious about cocktails. gambitbar.com Vesper Bar at The Dorchester, Mayfair The vesper martini first appeared in James Bond’s debut, Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, a potent mix of gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc. The drink – and Fleming’s frequent patronage of the hotel – provided inspiration for when The Dorchester revamped its own longstanding bar into a destination venue. Vesper Bar is a thirties-inspired golden, glimmering confection, with polished wood and shimmering surfaces, plump blue armchairs, racing green bar stools and a beautiful 1930s palladium leaf ceiling. It’s plush, luxe and comfortable, with seamless service. The latest menu, Eterna, explores the golden ratio, a mathematical ratio seen throughout nature and art, and expressed in the menu through different flavour profiles – from savoury to herbaceous, floral and smoky. The Venus Observed, with coconut pisco, Seatrus gin, Italicus, tomato and caperberry, is a savoury delight, while Thunderball’s combination of Enemigo blanco tequila, pineapple and sage sauvignon blanc is a smoky, spicy winner. The Green Knight deploys diverse ingredients including vodka, mastiha, feta, gentian and watermelon in a balanced, gluggable drink, full of herbaceous character. It would be remiss to miss out on drinking an actual vesper, made with Stolichnaya vodka, the hotel’s own old tom gin, forbidden fruit liqueur and dry sherry. It’s icy, boozy perfection. dorchestercollection.com <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2025/06/TheDorchester-VesperBar-Hero-DorchesterCollection-1-3e2476c.jpg" width="11648" height="8736" alt="Vesper Bar interiors, a thirties-inspired golden, glimmering bar, with polished wood, plump blue armchairs, racing green bar stools and a 1930s palladium leaf ceiling" title="TheDorchester-VesperBar-Hero-DorchesterCollection (1)" /> Velvet at Corinthia London, Embankment Hidden away in the grandly opulent surrounds of the Corinthia hotel, Velvet is as lush and lavishly swagged as the name suggests. Hidden behind velvet curtains, with soft lighting and plumply upholstered sofas and chairs in rich jewel shades, it’s an intimate, plush showcase for cocktails courtesy of award-winning drinks maestro, Salvatore Calabrese. The bar’s current menu, The Quote Book, is inspired by the words of the great and good, and has plenty to discover. Start with the bright and silky Calypso – a lovely way to use whisky in a long cocktail with Hibiki Harmony, umeshu sake, Amaro Lucano and an almond butter fat wash adding mellow nuttiness. V=SC² is a forward-thinking spin on a martini, featuring Tuscan Ginepraio gin, a bell pepper distillation and a trio of cabbage, saffron and basil oils, plus Muyu Jasmine liqueur. It’s a complex, aromatic affair with interplaying vegetal and floral notes. If more martinis are your thing, then the cocktail menu comes with a pleasingly lengthy list. Try a Salvatore classic, Spicy Fifty, with Stolichnaya Vanilla, elderflower, chilli and lime juice, full of spicy, floral and citrus flavours. Elsewhere, there’s a lengthy roster of champagnes on offer and luxe bar snacks including caviar and blinis, buttermilk-fried Norfolk chicken and Devon crab bao bun sliders. Classy live music can accompany your libations from Tuesday to Saturday until late. corinthia.com Side Hustle at The Nomad London, Covent Garden What was once the former Bow Street police station now feels like a slice of Manhattan real estate, with Side Hustle’s grand marble-topped bar and dark wood, and leather-lined booths with brass rails. This is very much in keeping with the NoMad hotel itself, a New York import, but when it comes to the drinks and food this lively bar and restaurant takes its cue from much farther south, with a cocktail menu centred around Latin American flavours and agave spirits. There’s a delightful menu of seasonal margaritas – a rhubarb expression with yuzu and Aperol is tangy and full bodied, while a bergamot and chilli creation has lovely floral notes with tingle of heat. Other classics include a zingy paloma but it’s also worth exploring the roster of house cocktails that explore the variety of agave spirits. We dived into the agave martinis, highlights of which include a dirty tequila-based variation with savoury depth from fino sherry, and a spicy martini using corn-infused mezcal and Thai bird’s-eye chilli for a cocktail with a proper poky punch. Bar snacks are not to be missed, including an on-point guacamole, prawn croquettes, charred Padrón peppers with umami salsa macha, plus delicious tacos including baja fish, chicken tinga and pork carnitas. hilton.com Connaught Bar at The Connaught Hotel, Mayfair Low-lit, slinky, plush luxury is the name of the game at this acclaimed hotel bar, whose tastefully decadent surrounds – metallic accents, mirrors, a mutedly rich palate and plenty of seating to sink into – is matched by impeccable, meticulously attentive service and even more impressive cocktails. So impressive, in fact, that it was voted World's Best Bar in 2021. If you only order one drink let it be the martini – made at a trolley by your table with theatrical, expert aplomb (watching them pour the martini in a high, silvery stream into your glass is a sight to behold). Tanqueray No Ten is the recommended serve, along with a blend of vermouths and your choice of homemade bitters (ranging from tonka bean and lavender to cardamom, on our visit). The end result is spot on, silky textured and very generous in size – don’t drink one on an empty stomach. the-connaught.co.uk Punch Room at The London EDITION, Fitzrovia Hidden in the depths of the glamorous London EDITION hotel, this bar is a cocoon of wood panelling and blue-grey velvet banquettes where creatives gather for hushed conversations over iconic punch-style cocktails. An electric fire casts a cosy ambience across the lounge area and there’s a steady stream of shaking and stirring at the free-standing bar in the corner. The menu plays with light, and drinks are split into three sections – opaque, translucent and transparent. From the latter, completely clear drinks include the silky, mezcal-based Halo of Smoke with a kick from cayenne pepper, fragrant Bergamot liqueur Italicus and a fresh, grassy lift from coriander, basil and parsley oil dropped in. Fireball Punch has a tropical edge while negroni fans should order the unique Mother of Pearl, with Campari playing its part in a bittersweet pink foam that sits atop a clear Sakura cherry vermouth infused liquid. An eclectic choice of bar food ranges from the likes of toasted brioche rolls filled with tempura prawns, marie rose and trout caviar to crisp chicken tenders lifted with jalapeño and even mini versions of Berner Tavern comfort food, such as mac and cheese with braised beef blade. editionhotels.com Seed Library at One Hundred Shoreditch, Shoreditch Ryan Chetiyawardana’s latest venture is a slinky drinking den in the basement of the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel. Whereas his flagship bar – Lyaness at Sea Containers in Southbank – showcases a high-concept approach to mixology, Seed Library is deliberately more casual and low key. Walk-ins are encouraged and the space, with its sultry lighting, wood-panelled walls, red velvet chairs and warm palette, feels retro and slightly louche, yet very welcoming. Expect elevated riffs on cocktail classics with a touch of whimsy. The vibrant Breakfast Bellini with Patrón tequila, century beans, breakfast fruit and champagne is served with a fried egg sweet balanced on top of the glass. Asteriod Garden is a celestial spin on the English Garden, lifted with shochu and pink meteor wine, while apple blossom and tundra tea bring refreshment. A Coriander Seed Gimlet is gorgeously executed – clean and citrusy with a backbone of gentle, warming spice. Bar snacks include the likes of nocerella olives, spiced nuts and chilli rice crackers - everything you want from a nibble: savoury, salty and crunchy. Analogue lovers can find East London's Diggers Dozen spinning vinyl at the weekend. seedlibraryshoreditch.com Le Magritte at The Beaumont, Mayfair The bar of Mayfair’s opulent art-deco hotel, The Beaumont, is enveloped in old school American elegance. Jazz legends rotate on the soundtrack as well as featuring in black and white photographs on wood-panelled walls. Intimate seating areas are arranged around mirrored tables topped with lamps casting their soft glow. Or hop up at the bar to be dazzled by the mirror-backed array of bottles. There’s a line-up of bitter aperitif classics such as manhattans, negronis and boulevardiers, or choose something unique in the zesty Empire of Light laced with smoky mezcal. The Six Elements makes for a delicate, grown-up, non-alcoholic option. Superb bar snacks include dinky Hereford sliders, crisp, bechamel-filled french toast squares topped with bacon jam and the famous prawn cocktail in which six giant plump prawns perch on the rim of a large sundae glass with a pot of Marie rose sauce on ice. thebeaumont.com/dining/le-magritte The American Bar at The Savoy, Mayfair Voted the World’s Best Bar on multiple occasions, thanks to spot-on cocktails and lashings of Art Deco glamour, The American Bar’s iconic status has long been established. Despite its reputation, it’s not a bar that’s out to intimidate – while the sleek, 1920s-style cream fittings are smart, and the helpful, white-jacketed waiters impress, the vibe is quietly tasteful, low-slung leather chairs are comfortable, the tinkle of jazz piano and the sound of cocktail shakers your only soundtrack for the evening. The latest cocktail menu, Re:Invented, is self-explanatory, offering smart and assured spins on classic drinks. The Hanky Panky Highball, with gin, white rum, sweet vermouth, Cynar and tonic, is freshly tart and herbaceous, while To the Moon & Back, with Bowmore 15-year-old whisky, oloroso sherry, chilli, green apple and soda is full-bodied and smoky yet long and refreshing – a next-level whisky soda. Those willing to try something different should make a beeline for the Savoy Bells, a complex marriage of blanco tequila with white port and a red wine float that is bright with herbaceous agave flavour, silky with a sweetly fruity edge. thesavoylondon.com The Donovan, Mayfair Mayfair isn’t lacking in swish hotel bars, but The Donovan Bar is plushly discreet, ideal if you’re after a cocktail in a low-key, luxurious setting. Tucked away in Brown’s Hotel, wood-panelled and decked out in soothing greys with green velvet armchairs, nab a seat at the sleek, glass-topped bar to watch your drinks get whipped up in front of you. The bar is named after 60s photographer Terence Donovan, whose black-and-white photography adorns the space. The cocktails are inspired by iconic figures connected to Brown’s, from Oscar Wilde to Oliver Reed, and are co-created by powerhouse bartender Salvatore Calabrese (whose own signature drinks, like the vanilla- and chilli-spiked Spicy Fifty, are also on the list). Not Shaken, Not Stirred is the delicious love child of a martini and an espresso martini – Ciroc vodka redistilled with Lucano coffee cordial, plus coffee caviar. It’s clear and crystalline with a warming, spicy undertone. Another hit, Read Between the Lines, gives an old fashioned some buttery, saline oomph with salted-butter-washed Dewar’s whisky. Lighter cocktails include the Honey Bear, refreshing and tart with Campari and rhubarb cordial, plus Normandy cider, adding fruity funkiness. Non-alcs also impress – try the spritz-like Virgin Falls, crisp yet creamy and spicy. roccofortehotels.com Lyaness, Sea Containers Hotel, Southwark Drinks maestro Ryan Chetiyawardana’s flagship bar is lauded for its innovative mixology, and also happens to be one of the nicest places to enjoy a cocktail on the South Bank. On the ground floor of the Sea Containers hotel, it combines a light, bright palette of sky blue walls, electric blue banquettes, opulent gold accents and a sleek emerald green marble bar (leftover from the site’s previous iteration, the award-winning Dandelyan) with glorious views of the Thames. Lyaness is a fresh, modern take on what a hotel bar should be, with yearly changing cocktail menus a product of meticulous research and freewheeling creativity. The latest, Collaboration Menu, is themed around cooperation and the coming together of ideas. If that all sounds rather serious then, rest assured, the drinks themselves are fun and full of flavour. The menu makes use of 12 housemade ingredients, from savoury and creamy KitKat-so, a koji and KitKat combo, to the sweet-sour-umami Bitterless Aperitif, a fusion of grapefruit, radicchio and plantain. The zippy Vantapink Gimlet is a tangy, tart confection of Botanist gin, ‘spite cordial’ made with dock leaves, rhubarb and fermented nettles, while the No Spoon Old Fashioned, matching Del Maguey mezcal with walnut honey and hibiscus-based ‘purple bitters’ is punchily smoky and spicy. Top billing on our visit went to the Pitstop Fix, using Port Charlotte 10 whisky, KitKat-so, linden honey, tropical chilli and lemon for a delicious next-level sour – smoky and savoury, creamy and silky. lyaness.com The Coral Room at The Bloomsbury, Bloomsbury This luxe Bloomsbury hotel bar, tucked away on a quiet side street in a busy area of central London, combines bold interiors with an intriguing wine list. Saturated coral walls, huge white murano glass chandeliers and a sweeping, marble-topped art deco-style bar, super-sized pot plants everywhere and low, plushly upholstered chairs and sofas set a striking tone at the bar, matched by an extensive list of English sparkling wines, curated by master of wine Anne McHale, with options by the bottle and a small, ever-changing list of wines by the glass. thecoralroom.co.uk Dukes Bar at Duke's, Mayfair This bar might be world-famous but it still feels like one of London's best kept secrets, discreetly tucked away in a quiet Mayfair cul-de-sac. Inside, discover a lushly outfitted parlour that feels little changed since the hotel first opened its doors in 1908, with antique portraits on the walls, plump armchairs, courtly white-jacketed waiters and a cosy wood-panelled bar. Martinis are the name of the game here. Waiters will bring a trolley to your table stocked with ice-cold bottles of gin, vodka and decanters of vermouth and bitters, and assemble your drink with streamlined efficiency. If you ever tire of overly elaborate mixology and cocktails then a Dukes Bar martini is a delicious palate cleanser: clean, crystalline and, it has to be said, enormous – the two martini maximum at the bar is a wise one. dukeshotel.com Dover Yard at 1 Hotel Mayfair, Mayfair This sleek bar is hidden away in eco chic oasis, 1 Hotel Mayfair. Natural aesthetics include low gnarled wood tables with sofas and throws in soft, muted tones. A striking bar showcases delicate racing pigeon feathers worked into a gentle wave beneath the glass. Repurposed ingredients take the limelight in the eclectic range of sophisticated cocktails. Rum-based falernum liqueur is fat-washed with left-over breakfast pastries and shaken with the bar’s own lemon sour mash, made from squeezing surplus lemon and lime husks, to create the unique Pan Brioche cocktail, reminiscent of a whisky sour and topped with a tiny croissant. Rotating seasonal classics include the vibrant Purple Carrot Garibaldi that infuses vodka with English purple carrots, while the lower-ABV Palomito is a long, bittersweet and refreshing concoction of Campari, Mancino Chinato vermouth and pink grapefruit. 1hotels.com Beaufort Bar at The Savoy, Picadilly Tucked away deep at the back of The Savoy, you’ll find the hidden gem that is the Beaufort Bar. The vibe inside is dark and moody with dim lighting, black walls and opulent gold highlights for an intimate feel, but there’s also a surprisingly modern DJ and upbeat playlist as the night goes on. Early in the evening you’ll find a pre-theatre crowd, plus hotel guests and post-business meeting groups. Lounge on the comfy sofas and padded chairs with low tables. Take your pick from the complex signature cocktails on the menu with long ingredients lists, or the expert bar staff can make you the classics. A simple gin sour has been upgraded to the complex Seasonal Sour with an impressive nine ingredients, including port, pisco and sloe gin, topped with a pale vanilla foam. For a long drink, try the Good Fortune – a fruity blend of St Germain, grapefruit juice, sparkling wine and more. We were also tempted by the Croissantini, made with ‘croissant vodka’ – fans of a strong drink should give it a try. There’s also a selection of sustainable cocktails and alcohol-free options. It’s worth paying attention to the bar snacks on offer, too: there’s bumps of caviar and platters of oysters for ultimate decadence, but it was the plate of moreish sticky gochujang fried chicken topped with pickled ginger that we’d happily return to have a second time. thesavoylondon.com Sweeties at The Standard, King’s Cross Step into the Standard hotel’s sleek red pill lift and zoom up to the 10th floor for this luxe bar that combines retro interiors with playful, off-beat cocktails and unrivalled views of King’s Cross and St Pancras. In keeping with its home, a restored 1970s Brutalist office block, Sweeties takes its cue from the same decade, with opulent interiors including velvet sofas, mirrored tables, gold accents, wood panelling and patterned carpets. The cocktail menu features ‘feel-good ingredients and mood-enhancing mixes’ designed to be energising and uplifting. We’re not sure if we felt these effects but regardless the drinks are very good. Pick Me Up – made with eight adaptogenic (ingredients that help the body deal with stress) mushrooms, vodka, rum, caramel and burnt butter drank like an elevated espresso martini, layered and earthy, with rounded depth. Roots Manuva – riesling vermouth, golden beet caramel, turmeric, ginseng, ginger, orange and mead – is vibrant, honeyed and fresh, with a vegetal edge. No Whey Jose, blanco tequila with strawberry, red rice, rose and a salted hot coconut foam, was the delightful cocktail equivalent of a Campino strawberry candy. Purple Rain – Johnny Walker whisky, amazake, salted plum, cherry bark and blossom wine – was like an extra fruity old fashioned, bursting with berry flavours, smoky and subtly savoury. standardhotels.com Artesian at The Langham, Marylebone With its opulent surroundings – soaring ceilings, baroque chandeliers, a gilded bar and scalloped purple sofas – and equally illustrious heritage (it’s won multiple World’s Best Bar gongs), this decadent hotel bar, minutes from Oxford Circus, is a must visit. The menu on our last trip paid tribute to retro drinks, with sleek, minimalist takes on camp classics. A Woo Woo is a pleasingly silky, light affair, with peachy fruitiness and complexity from vermouth and Chivas Regal. The flirty, ditzy cosmopolitan is reimagined as a punchy short drink, with sultry earthy notes from Cynar, rounded fruitiness and a spicy kick thanks to rye whisky. artesian-bar.co.uk The Zetter, Marylebone and Clerkenwell Both the bars at the branches of this London hotel are reminiscent of an eccentric Edwardian sitting room – cosy, luxurious drinking den with earthy red walls, richly patterned rugs on wooden floors, a profusion of gilt-framed pictures and portraits, velvet sofas, carved wooden chairs and oriental vases. thezetter.com Pilgrm Lounge, Paddington A quirky, design-led, 73-bedroom hotel with lounge-bar and café that’s brought a fine Victorian building in London’s Paddington back to life. This boutique hotel on a pretty Victorian terraced street in Paddington has a hidden secret at the top of its original mahogany staircase. A retro-chic lounge, scattered with coral and olive velvet chairs, and marble tables, is the perfect hideaway for pre-batched cocktails from top London bars such as Bar Termini and Three Sheets. Doors open onto a sun-soaked terrace, where you can sit beneath straw parasols and enjoy the bustle of Paddington from a distance. thepilgrm.com Fitz's at Kimpton Fitzroy, Russell Square Original stained glass windows, a glittering disco ball, scalloped velvet sofas and contemporary artwork bring together the old and new in this luxurious drinking den at the Kimpton Fitzroy London. Its latest menu, The Theory of Colour, is a high-concept affair that explores how colours can influence moods, emotions and choices. The bar has created 14 different cocktails inspired by a 17th-century still life flower painting by Flemish artist Nicolaes van Verendael. On the menu, each drink is matched with a different treatment of the artwork, and guests are invited to select their drink based on which image is most appealing. Chrome Yellow is a gorgeously bright and tropical affair. With clarified banana, Mount Gay XO rum, cognac, pimento bitters and a passion fruit float, it’s impressively balanced, delivering bold flavours while remaining light and silky. On the more sultry end of the spectrum, Rothko’s Abyss features Toki whisky, Mancino rosso amaranto vermouth, coffee beans, vanilla and Campari. Intense and full-bodied, it’s perfect for fans of boulevardiers and negronis. fitzs.co.uk
Why every oenophile should discover Australia’s remote wine paradise
Often described as a paradise by winemakers, our expert shares what makes this boutique wine region so special
Margaret River is one of the most remote wine regions in the world, a strip around 60 miles long and 20 miles wide on the south-west tip of Australia, surrounded on three sides by the Indian Ocean. It’s also one of the newest, established less than 60 years ago when it was noticed how similar its climate and soils were to the best sites in Bordeaux. Margaret River's main grape varieties Margaret River – or Margs as the locals call it – has established itself among the most respected wine regions in the world. As in Bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc and sémillon thrive brilliantly, the latter two often blended to make wonderful, opulent whites that get better with a bit of bottle age, while chardonnay is perhaps its shining star, making dazzling wines that really sing of the region’s unique terroir. The geology here predates that of almost every other winemaking region by around 500 million years. Its well-drained gravel soils retain heat to help with the ripening of the grapes, while the clay beneath holds moisture during the dry summers. But its proximity to the ocean and its cooling sea breezes is the real key to the characteristic freshness, minerality and savoury salinity of the wines that distinguishes them from those from other, hotter parts of Australia. Margaret River's wine making While Australia’s wine industry is dominated by a few huge companies, Margaret River is very much a boutique region, accounting for only 2 per cent of Australia’s total production. Here, the focus is on small, often family-owned producers making high-quality wines, many of them organic or biodynamic, which aren’t cheap enough to compete with supermarkets’ budget bottles but generally offer great value when you’re prioritising quality over quantity. Margs has a thriving community of dynamic, innovative growers and winemakers who embody the pioneering spirit of the region, and their wines will rarely let you down. Want to stay over? Cape Lodge Margaret River is a long schlep from anywhere but well worth the journey. It’s often described as a paradise by winemakers and this holds true for wine-loving tourists too, as you’re never far from great wineries, excellent eating options, unspoilt forests or the majestic coast with pristine beaches that lure surfers from around the world. Cape Lodge is a luxurious retreat hotel set among gorgeous grounds, including its own lake and a vineyard producing award-winning wines. Quietly luxurious with airy, elegant rooms, a swimming pool and tennis courts, as well as a top-tier restaurant with a fantastic wine list, it’s secluded but within easy reach of Margaret River’s many charms. capelodge.com.au Best Margaret River wine to buy 2026 Vasse Felix Filius chardonnay Available from Majestic (£16.50) Felix was the first winery to be established in Margaret River, in 1967, and continues to be one of its finest. This is consistently delicious and is great value for the quality: juicy melon and nectarine fruit run through with a nutty warmth and a zesty acidity. Look out for its well-priced sémillon/sauvignon blanc blend in Tesco, too. Howard Park Margaret River Miamup cabernet sauvignon Available from Tesco (£12.50) Lots of bang for your buck here in this crowd-pleasing cab. Full-bodied and fruity but with Margaret River’s trademark freshness and vitality, it’s full of blackcurrant and plummy fruit, along with a savoury herbaceous finish. As good with pizza as it is with a steak. LS Merchants Margaret River chenin blanc 2023 Available from The Wine Society (£17.50) Chenin blanc fell out of favour in Margaret River a while ago but is now enjoying a welcome revival with wines such as this. Lemon curd, pink grapefruit and zingy lime juice softened by honeysuckle, creamy and slightly waxy notes along with the region’s distinctive and delicious streak of salinity. Lots going on here, a wonderful gastronomic wine. Check out more regional wine guides here: Best Hungarian wine Best Loise Valley Wine Best Georgian wine Best Sicilian Wine Best Greek Wine Best Catalonia Wine Best German wine Best South African wine
Ljubljana's best restaurants: where to eat and drink in Slovenia's capital
Keep things local in the Slovenian capital with wild asparagus polenta fritters, nutty gelato and orange wines
Looking for the best restaurants in Ljubljana? Want to explore the best riverside bars and bistros in the Slovenian capital? Check out our guide below, then add on a few days exploring the mountain region of the Julian Alps. Chocolate box Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture, a river romantically spanned by pretty bridges and pedestrian- and bike-friendly policies make Slovenia’s capital city one of Europe’s most civilised. It’s also one of the continent’s most foodie destinations, with a position between the Alps and the Adriatic that lends the local cuisine both an excellent range of produce and a real variety of culinary influences. Ljubljana's best restaurants, bars and cafés Open Kitchen Market – for a taste of Slovenia Every Friday, from March to October, Ljubljana’s Pogačar Square comes to life as the city’s Open Kitchen Market. There’s a festival atmosphere beneath the shadows of the green-domed Ljubljana Cathedral, and all manner of vendors, from farms to gourmet restaurants, sell dishes and drinks for visitors to graze on. Sample vibrant pumpkin seed oil and Broken Bones gin (distilled with linden flowers and rosehip from Slovenia’s Karst region), or tuck into dishes from the country’s top restaurants – Gostilna Mihovec, Vander and JB Restaurant. Finish your visit like a local by stopping off at Jezeršek’s corner stall for comforting kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancakes), topped with apple, mixed berries or chocolate sauce. odprtakuhna.si Aftr – for relaxed bistro dinners Pops of fun adorn this lively bistro, popular with Ljubljana’s in-the-know crowd. Striking pop art provides a backdrop to high-top tables and a disco ball hangs from the exposed industrial ceiling. A bar stands centre stage, behind which fresh, sparkling Medot Brut 48, dry Klinec Malvazija and complex Movia Veliko Rdeče blend are poured along with seasonal cocktails. The succinct sharing plates menu includes squidgy potato focaccia with whipped shallot butter, spiced pine nut studded lamb tartare wrapped in fragrant shiso leaf bites and Adriatic red snapper with white asparagus beurre blanc, finished with soft serve of the day. aftr.si JAZ – for spotlighting Slovenian produce Highly acclaimed chef Ana Roš is the executive chef at this bistro-style spot overlooking leafy Knafljev passage. Playful creations showcase Slovenia’s rich bounty – Waldorf salad spotlights green apple, folds of pickled celeriac, walnut mousse, kefir milk and lovage oil, while sea bream ceviche is dressed with puffed buckwheat, popping peas and fermented citrus and strawberry water ponzu. jaz.anaros.eu Črno Zrno – for coffee Črno Zrno translates as ‘black bean’ and this hole-in-the-wall spot is a temple to just that. Alexander Niño Ruiz sources coffee beans from his native Colombia, roasts them at renowned Slovenian roaster Stow, then serves the resulting brews in his perfectly formed coffee shop. The space is enveloped in blue and white Valencian tiles – chat with local coffee geeks over a meticulously prepared pour-over inside, or sit in the sun next to painted wooden shutters. Alexander’s niche is cold brew: try it on the rocks in a wine glass, or as an addition to a funky non-alcoholic cocktail made with Ruiz’ grandmother’s elderflower syrup. crnozrno.com Pekarna Osem – for baked goods The minimalist decor at this artisan bakery allows its products to shine. Dedicated young baker Andrej Gerželj is on site every morning, from 5am, preparing dough for crunchy spelt baguettes intertwined with Slovenian Tolminc cheese, and flaky pastry ribbons sprinkled with chocolate beads. The open bakery at the back means you can watch perfectly formed balls of dough being transformed into golden loaves, their comforting aromas filling the space. pekarnaosem.com Suklje – for Slovenian wine With its vaulted ceilings, riverside terrace and 300-strong wine list, Suklje is the place to spend a few hours sipping local wines. There are 200 bottles from Slovenia alone – grapes include fruity sauvignon blanc from the north east, the south west’s rounded and woody rebula epoca, and blue frankish from Suklje’s own vineyard in the south east, bursting with leathery notes and, red currant aromas. To go with it, order a charcuterie board of salty, silky prosciutto and marbled salami from Slovenian Krškopolje pigs, alongside aged kosect cheese and French comté. winebar.suklje.com Gostlinca AS – for elegant seafood lunches An atmospheric brick-lined room and sweeping, walnut tree shaded terrace are both desirable spaces to choose between at one of the oldest restaurants in town. The seafood-forward menu features grilled shrimp, tuna tartare and Adriatic monkfish, alongside pulled veal cheek and sliced roast beef tagliata baked on an open-fire grill. Plus walnut, blueberry or strawberry cake for dessert depending on the season. The extensive wine list is handily categorised by style – rich white, orange, fresh red – then divided into regional varieties including Stajerska, Vipavska Valley and Goriska Brda. gostilnaas.si Vigò – for gelato The queue for this popular gelato spot can stretch all the way to Ljubljana’s famous three bridges. The pull? Indulgent cooling concoctions to rival those of neighbouring Italy. Try the Vigo (fresh mascarpone, chocolate, hazelnuts and Nutella) or lemon tiramisu with mascarpone and chocolate sauce from a tap. The vegan sorbet is some of the best we’ve tried – rich dark chocolate laced with aromatic dried orange pieces. Order a cone to go and mooch through the surrounding streets as you lick it, or bask in the sun out on Vigò’s large terrace. vigo-icecream.com Moji Štruklje – for traditional dumplings Located in the arcade of Plečnik covered market on Ljubljana’s Pogačar Square, this family-run café specialises in štruklje dumplings. Traditional fillings range from tarragon to buckwheat with walnuts and sweet, raisin-flecked cottage cheese. More contemporary combinations include meat-pork crackling, mango-yogurt and pistachio-pumpkin seeds. Pair with a local draft beer (Union or Lasko are popular choices) or a craft pick – Yes Boss!, The 3rd PILL and Black Aurora – and soak up the bustling city vibes. moji-struklji.si Tabar – for Slovenian tapas Tabar, its chairs spilling out beneath sycamore trees, forms part of a buzzy courtyard set back from the city’s river. It specialises in Slovenian small plates – beef tartare with burnt aubergine, octopus with “half way” kimchi (not fermented, but cooked in spices), and warm rabbit terrine with burnt baby leeks surrounded by a moat of buttermilk and horseradish. Inventive vegetarian options include white asparagus with wild garlic, and ground chickpeas topped with bright peas and freshly picked salad leaves from the chef’s garden. The menu must-order is the “olive potatoes” – super-crispy little potatoes with notes of paprika and hidden olives. There’s also an impressive orange wine list to navigate, from mineral malvasia to raisiny jakot. Or go for Gordia’s unfiltered sparkling wine from the coastal town of Kolomban. tabar.si Gostilnica 5-6 kg – for pizza This rustic, brick-walled restaurant takes its name from the weight of a typical Slovenian suckling pig, cooked here in a bread oven. The slow-cooked pork is well worth a visit but so, too, are the pizzas (as they should be this close to the Italian border). The blistered crusts of Neapolitan-style pizzas wrap around bases topped with baked cherry tomatoes, confit garlic and basil. Toppings add extra punch – Pizza 5-6 kg is an indulgent combination of fior di latte, sausage, porchetta made from that slow-cooked suckling pig and roasted red pepper sauce. Or, go coastal and try the seafood pizza, complete with cuttlefish ink, sea bass fillet, royal prawns and capers. facebook.com/gostilnica56kg Stow – for coffee Cut through City Museum of Ljubljana’s striking courtyard and you’ll find this speciality coffee roaster. Light pours in through glass walls onto canary-yellow tables scattered across cobbled floors. Baristas treat the La Morzocco coffee machine with respect, and beans are treated as a seasonal fruit, procured from small-scale growers around the world and roasted on-site. In spring, go for the floral, honeyed notes of African burundi, or enjoy delicate jasmine and bergamot in Panama’s legendary geisha coffee. If the sun is out, sit and sip beneath a shady parasol in the museum courtyard. stow.si Butik LePotica– for traditional bakes This patisserie gets its name from the celebration cake it serves – shaped like a bundt, potica is traditionally eaten at Christmas and during celebrations. Walnut is the classic flavour, an earthy paste spiralled through the dough, while sweet tarragon is popular at Easter. At the small boutique, bakers create individual-sized treats and experiment with flavours such as poppyseed, chocolate, hazelnut and mint. le-potica.si :Projekt – for craft beer Opened in May 2025, this graffiti-clad bottle shop and bar is hidden up a paved pedestrian street in a more local part of town, not far from Dragon Bridge. Step down into the mint green space to peruse the brews on tap, shelves stocked with European craft beer and a fridge dedicated to Slovenian specialties. projekt.beer Ek bistro – for brunch Sit by the city’s Ljubljanica river to enjoy a backdrop of forest-blanketed hills, or settle into an exposed brick nook at this popular brunch spot. The eggs (benedict, scrambled, royale) are what draw the crowds, but larger lunch plates also shine – try plump pink duck on seasonal vegetables and sweet potato mash, or wild asparagus polenta fritters with fresh salad. Homemade ice teas include sparkling elderflower and lemongrass with mint, thyme and lavender. ek-bistro.business.site Pop’s Aperitivo – for buzzy local feels Catering to a lively local crowd, this expansive terrace bar and restaurant plays to Slovenia's neighbouring Italian influence with casual pizza and pasta dishes, cherry negronis and olive oil fat-washed Italicus spritzes. aperitivo.thepopsplace.com Lajbah – for Slovenian craft beer With 16 beers on tap and more than 130 bottles from around the world to choose from, this contemporary pub is a great place to taste some of Slovenia’s best-loved brews. Treat yourself to a beer flight and sample the likes of Pelicon’s Yess Boss! pale ale, Green Gold Brewing’s tropical IPA, and smooth, chocolatey HumanFish Baltic Porter. lajbah.si AS Boutique Hotel – a food-centric place to stay in Ljubljana Nestled into leafy Knafljev passage, this contemporary boutique hotel is built atop family-run dining institution Gostilna AS, right in the centre of the Slovenian capital. Designed to reflect the style of buildings in the Alpine north, the striking steel structure is entwined with plants in keeping with the area’s green status. The artistic focus continues inside, with a chic library and lounge area, walls lined with Slovenian pop art and contemporary light installations. The owner’s art collection adorns the 30 smart rooms, along with walnut wood panelling and bespoke corrugated wardrobes. Almost all have balconies that look onto pretty rooftops, many offering glimpses of the castle perched above. The Castle Exclusive room boasts uninterrupted views of the landmark, not only from the floor-to-ceiling windows but also reflected in the glass encasing an intricate wrought iron bedframe. There are multiple on-site restaurants to choose from: see above for more about Gostilna AS, JAZ and Pop’s Aperitivo. Doubles from £222, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com
From slinky, speakeasy-style dens to cutting-edge mixology, London's cocktail bars are world-class. Here's a taste of what to expect
Looking for the best cocktail bars in London? As olive’s drinks writer, I've spent the past eight years scouring the capital’s bar scene to keep up with the latest trends, openings and hot spots. London’s bar scene is one of the best in the world (including four of the World’s 50 Best Bars; see the full list here), buzzing with cutting-edge mixology, top-tier bartender talent and, most importantly, really delicious cocktails. Here’s my pick of the best at the moment – from a Latin American-inspired basement bar in Notting Hill to a Dalston agaveria and award-winning cocktail lounge in Soho. There's plenty to keep your Friday nights and weekends busy; make sure you check back for more as I'll be updating this guide with the best new cocktail bar openings. For more like this, check out the World's 50 Best Bars, the best London hotel bars to visit, the best listening bars in London and the best London pubs for food lovers. Also check out our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Fitzrovia, best restaurants in Shoreditch, best restaurants in Marylebone and best restaurants in Notting Hill. Best London cocktail bars Homeboy, Islington Homeboy promises modern Irish hospitality and delivers it in spades. The acclaimed bar was established in 2018 by Dublin native Aaron Wall (Callooh Callay, London Cocktail Club), bringing NY dive bar vibes to Islington's Essex Road. Now something of a hub in the neighbourhood, it continues to serve excellent, refined cocktails in a warm, familiar space. Leaning solidly into whiskey, the drinks menu offers clever twists on classic flavours. We loved the sidecar-adjacent Wogan, which brings together Teeling Small Batch whiskey, apricot liqueur, lime and a hint of salt; and would choose the Taoiseach – with Redbreast 12 whiskey, triple sec, red vermouth and pomegranate – over a manhattan on most occasions. Special mention goes to the Luca, a complex, martini-style marvel featuring reposado tequila, white vermouth, tomato water and celery salt tincture – highly recommended if you like drinks with a savoury edge. Irish coffees in hot or frozen versions are just the ticket for those in need of a pick-me-up. Service is exceptional – friendly, knowledgeable and effortless – and a key part of what makes Homeboy such an enjoyable visit. Food is inviting and generous, with the likes of burgers, Guinness stew and proper Irish Sunday roast (including a vegan option). Beloved Irish deli staple the chicken fillet roll also makes an appearance – ours was delicious, and massive. homeboybar.com Swift, Soho Swift has three different sites in London – its Borough and Shoreditch outposts are well worth a visit but we’ve always had a fondness for the original Soho bar on Old Compton Street. It’s a two-part affair, with a light and bright, more casual space on the ground floor that’s just for walk-ins (do try the signature sgroppino with lemon sorbet, prosecco and St-Germain) and a secluded, slinky downstairs lounge that remains one of our favourite places to get a cocktail in central London, all inky, shimmering surfaces and moody lighting. It feels properly grown-up and chic but – crucially – never pretentious or unapproachable. It’s a place to cloister oneself away from the hectic city above. In our opinion the two best places to sit are either at the bar, where you can watch the bartenders do their thing – just the ticket for a solo cocktail – or in one of the sleek crescent booths (an excellent date night spot). The latest cocktail menu celebrates Swift entering its 10th year and divvies up drinks into four sections: Bright, Delicate, Rich and Stiff. It gets extra points for including a booze-free serve in each. On the lighter end of the spectrum, the bright-green Kew Gardens with basil, cucumber, prosecco and Gin Mare, delivered spritzy, verdant flavour, while the Chameleon marries the funk of Del Maguey Vida mezcal with green chilli, cachaça, lime, coriander and green pepper for a lively, vegetal, smoky take on a marg – do try this if you're a fan of more savoury drinks. The Stiff section celebrates spirit-forward cocktails, which as long-time devotees of boozy serves we interrogated especially closely. The Amber Cane comes out swinging, a seriously punchy, potent drink featuring Swift’s own blend of Jamaican rums with madeira and Bénédictine – we loved it. To round it all off, White Water, while not as lethal as the former, was a seductively smoky, tropical blend of Monkey Shoulder and Ardbeg 10 with coconut falernum and banana. If you want to continue the evening, don’t leave without trying the famous Irish coffee, a deliciously rich and silky creature that as far as we’re concerned is a miles better than an espresso martini. barswift.com Forbidden City at A.Wong, Pimlico Andrew Wong’s two Michelin starred vision of pan-Chinese cuisine is an unmissable experience but at the end of last year he also opened a standalone bar underneath his restaurant that convincingly makes the case for its own pilgrimage. Interiors are discreetly plush with black velvet chairs, dark wood and flashes of scarlet red, with tasselled lamps and ornamental birdcages. Cocktails come with twists inspired by Chinese flavours and ingredients. We’ve always thought that a negroni stands up rather well to spice and the bar’s version, infused with star anise, sichuan pepper and cinnamon is a winner, harmonising with the botanicals in the gin and vermouth. Spice also enhances The Xinjiang, which features tangy pomegranate granita with vodka, preserved plum and warming structure from ginger and cumin. Ultra-refined bar snacks are seriously impressive: we particularly liked oysters swimming in a punchy ‘fish fragrant’ aubergine sauce, superb steamed dim sum and deeply savoury wonton noodle soup. The bar also offers a £55 set menu complete with cocktail – a rather bargainous proposition if you’re keen to sample the high-end cooking of A Wong without the accompanying high prices of the 30-course tasting menu upstairs. awong.co.uk The Prince, Old Street ‘Sharp, strong, social’ – three words that certainly have their place in hospitality and give a good indication of what to expect from new Old Street cocktail bar The Prince. Service is sharp, in the sense of clean and friendly; drinks are strong, in concept and execution as well as ABV; and the vibe is undoubtedly social. Led by Will Hawes (formerly of Milk & Honey and Booking Office 1869), and Aaron Wall (of acclaimed Islington bar Homeboy), The Prince is a warm, intimate venue with an interior of dark wood, forest green and gold evoking 1920s charm. We enjoyed the genuine sense of inclusivity and camaraderie – sit at the bar if there's space. Signature drinks include black velvet, a beguiling mix of Guinness and champagne – closer to a champagne cocktail than a pint; and Buster's Stout Punch, a blend of three rums, cognac, lemon sherbet and stout, which sounds lethal but was in fact fruity and impeccably balanced. The real highlight though is the martini menu: a 10-strong list of favourites including the gin-vodka hybrid vesper, and the slightly savoury gibson, served with a pearl onion. Order straight from the list or let the bar staff tailor a martini to your exact preference – in our case, a 6:1 gin-vermouth ratio, three olives and freezing cold. "It's your drink," as the menu says, "it should be perfect for you." theprincebar.com The Black Duke, Vauxhall The Vauxhall roundabout was an unlikely dining destination until Jackson and Frank Boxer launched their much-praised Brunswick House in the surrounds of a Grade II listed Georgian mansion in 2010, and thanks to a restoration of the building’s 18th-century cellars they’ve now launched The Black Duke, making two good reasons why you need to visit. Inside, dripping candles add flickering cosiness to the carefully revived space, which includes 300-year-old fireplaces and chimneys restored to working order. Exposed brickwork, vintage tables and leather seating complete a pared-back yet inviting setting. The drinks list is pleasingly short and to the point – start with a one-sip negroni before moving on to crowd-pleasing cocktails with a twist; alpine herbal liqueur génépi adds herbal complexity to the house martini, while an excellent bergamot margarita highlights the floral charms of this citrus fruit. Elsewhere, non-alcoholic drinks included superior no/low brands like Botivo, and you can get £5 glasses of the house champagne, Pol Roger, between 6-8pm. Elevated snacks include devilled eggs, generous cheese, pickle and charcuterie plates, and a must-order grilled potato bread with green garlic butter. brunswickhouse.london Little Bat, Islington Neighbourhood bar is a descriptor that can be used too liberally when it comes to London drinking spots but it’s perfect for Little Bat. Sister bar to Callooh Callay in Shoreditch, it’s casual and fuss-free yet stylish, with refreshingly affordable cocktails. Dark, sultry and dimly lit, it’s a great choice for low-key birthday drinks with friends or perhaps one last drink on a night out. A refreshed cocktail list has plenty to enjoy. Flutter By is a light, pretty agave cocktail with Codigo Rosa tequila complemented by floral, fruity notes from strawberry aperitif and elderflower liqueur. Little Bat also nails the classics: we tried a warming, spicy boulevardier (the negroni’s winter cousin) with Fielden rye whisky, and there’s also a pithy roster of ‘Cold AF’ martinis. Our vesper did not disappoint, crystalline, boozy and icy cold. There’s also a revamped food menu courtesy of chef-consultant James Cochran – those looking for bar snacks can try the likes of toasted sourdough bread with whipped gravy butter, seriously addictive buttermilk fried chicken with jerk spiced hot honey glaze, and beer-battered Whitstable oysters. Or turn it into a proper dinner and add mains such as jerk spiced slow-braised shoulder of mangalitza pork or torched Cornish mackerel with hazelnut tahini, finished off with aged Berkswell basque cheesecake for dessert. littlebatbar.com Chiave, Shoreditch Chiave, meaning ‘key’ in Italian, cuts a subtle exterior on Shoreditch’s Redchurch Street bar the large, polished brass-effect key on the door. Naturally lit during the day from the sash windows, stay until sundown for the bar to transform into an intimate drinking den with dark mahogany tables and palo santo incense swirling up towards the enchanting red ceiling. Nine signature cocktails are the crowning glory, each of which is called after a song. Street Spirit (named after Radiohead’s 1995 track) is a vibrant twist on a Moscow mule with aniseed notes from raki – Turkey’s national spirit – effortlessly blended with a subtle salted caramel vodka. For crisp and aromatic herbal refreshment don’t miss Sunbeams with Tanqueray No Ten gin, chinotto nero and a blend of clarified sea buckthorn and basil. Margarita fans will not be disappointed with a Tommy margarita mixing equal quantities of Ojo de Dios mezcal and Don Julio tequila, with chilli liqueur and a spicy sumac rim. The team’s Turkish heritage is reflected in the small but thoughtful snack selection. Nibble on elegant, rice-stuffed vine leaves with pomegranate molasses for dipping, or hummus-filled cucumber bites. If you want to carry on the night, head downstairs to the small but compact dance floor with custom-made speakers and a classy HiFi mixer. chiaveshoreditch.com Mad Cats, Shoreditch Another listening bar has landed in Shoreditch – and this one is more than worth a visit. With a compact cocktail selection that chooses quality over quantity, Asian-inspired flavours sing with Muyu Jasmine Verte Liqueur, junmai sake and lemongrass, while there’s a dash of Lebanese inspiration with the Zaza cocktail, a spin on a classic tequila martini with infused za’atar oil. Red, white, rosé, orange and sparkling wines are available from traditional and new world regions, as well as five varieties of sake. East Asian flavours are carried across to the menu. The yellowtail carpaccio with jalapeño sauce and ponzu dressing is beautifully presented and citrussy without being too sharp. Towering brioche toast with crab and gochujang aïoli was a highlight, although there truly were no misses: charred Hispi cabbage is accompanied by an umami-rich wafu sauce, and the miso hake with chilli oil and samphire is buttery and delicate. Greek Cantaloupe sorbet makes the perfect palate cleanser ahead of the silky pandan crème brûlée. Attention to detail goes beyond the menu, with chopsticks resting on hand-painted model cats, DJs spinning vinyl only and an abundance of high-fidelity speakers to keep audiophiles content. Don’t miss a trip to the bathroom through the blue velvet curtain where The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is played on a speaker directly in your cubicle. madcats.uk Parasol, Stoke Newington From the team behind The Sun Tavern, Parasol is a latest addition to the slew of cool cocktail bars in Dalston. With a subtle exterior, stepping down concrete stairs reveals a plush curtain, behind which lies a speakeasy-style bar underneath the depths of Stoke Newington Road. Dark, cosy and with booths and tables plus seats underneath the paper lanterns at the bar, it’s a large space with a disco ball at-the-ready for DJ sessions until the early hours at the weekends. Those more sweet-inclined shouldn’t miss the fragrant Baklava with bourbon, amontillado, pistachio, honey, cardamom and orange blossom, or the whimsical Kinder Bueno with Irish cream liqueur, whisky, cacao and clarified milk. It was the Korean Jesus that stood out from the crowd – a gochujang twist on a spicy margarita balanced with plum soju, honey and with added aromatics from ginger and coriander. Fans of zingy, citrus flavours shouldn’t miss the silky Yuk Fu with Chilean pisco, green chartreuse, earthy matcha, pandan and coconut, and a piece of lemongrass delicately balanced on top. Alongside the house, ‘disco’ and sharing cocktails sit beers, ciders – including Parasol’s own Umbrella London brand – and a sizeable wine list. Bar snacks are kept simple but effective: paprika-topped creamy hummus and crisp Gordal olives make for great counterparts to the liquid refreshment. parasol-london.co.uk Cinco, Dalston Hidden away underneath sister restaurant Corrochio’s, Cinco is a rustic, sultry basement den with flickering candles and bare concrete walls decorated with Mexican art. First and foremost a bar that specialises in agave and Mexican spirits, its collection – including rare bottlings – is curated by Corrochio founders Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie from their travels across Daniel’s native Mexico. The bar even has its own in-house mezcal available to try and buy. Cocktails are surprising and layered, showcasing the full breadth of what agave spirits have to offer. The Doña Mago uses raicilla (another agave spirit), tomato liqueur, plum sake, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and plum and tomato cordial for a fabulous margarita-esque drink with smoky, fruity, tangy charm. Another next-level take on a marg comes in the form of the El Chihuas, with sotol (another Mexican distillate, made from the desert spoon plant), fig, guanabana and yuzu liqueurs. The end result is a tropical, creamy drink with a delicate floral edge. The Mujer Moderna features butter-washed Abasolo whisky, Nixta corn liqueur, crème de cacao and chocolate bitters for an opulent, cocoa-tinged interpretation of an old fashioned. Cinco also has a nice little roster of no- and low-alcohol cocktails made using alcohol-free spirits and Mexican ingredients – the La Bikini Cero, with non-alcoholic agave spirit, chilli syrup, verdita water and pineapple has a pleasing spicy kick. corrochios.com Encore, Mayfair Downstairs from Lebanese rotisserie joint Toum, Encore successfully ticks off two cocktail bar buzzwords in one fell swoop: listening bar and speakeasy. Just steps away from Regent Street, this stylish subterranean bar unites a heady mix of Lebanese and French influences across the polished cocktail and snack menus. Twelve signature cocktails showcase inventive twists on classics – a sumac-spiced negroni with tequila is balanced by pomegranate, while the refined mezcal spritz brings in zingy and refreshing yuzu, lime and coconut water. Those sweet-inclined will enjoy the unique yet familiar taste of the tarte tatin: oak aged brandy, vanilla liqueur, coconut water and honey give a balanced sweetness that is never saccharine. The Encore batanga is a stand-out with added depth from sherry and spidery strands of red chilli scattered on top. Unctuous and warm comté madeleines were particularly irresistible from the elevated bar snack menu. Habibi funk and Arabic disco deep cuts can be heard spinning on vinyl, thanks to the sound-diffusing ceiling and speakers dotted around the intimate space. Rich red carpets, mid-century wood panelling and stylish contemporary artwork make the bar the perfect spot for a date night or cosy catch-up with a friend. toumrotisserie.com The Listening Room, Soho Soho’s Wardour Street contains a secret. Downstairs from Japanese-inspired grill and omakase restaurant MOI – and via an impressive retro-futuristic spiral staircase – resides The Listening Room, a spacious underground listening bar. Serious about audio, bespoke speakers are from London-based sound system maker Friendly Pressure, and the walls are covered in soundwave-like textured curves for great acoustics. The drinks menu is led by ex-Langham Dino Koletsas and infused with Asian flavours. The shiro negroni, a refreshing white spin on a negroni with yuzu sake, potato shochu and chrysanthemum bitters has a pleasantly floral nose. Them Apples cleverly recreates the flavour of fresh green apple without using the ingredient itself: instead sparkling green tea, whisky, tomato liqueur and marigold combine for an ultra-refreshing sip. The extensive sake and natural wine list is accessible to both the more experienced and more nascent sipper. Order sushi, small plates and skewers hot off the grill from the upstairs kitchen by executive chef Andy Cook who worked with Gordon Ramsay to open his outpost in Tokyo. The crisp, warm and slightly sweet steamed buns served with smoked cod’s roe was a strong start. Sushi is not one to miss either – we chose Icelandic sea urchin and chutoro tuna temaki delicately wrapped in nori, whose rich flavour was perfectly complemented by dots of wasabi and slices of pickled ginger. moirestaurant.com Side Hustle at The Nomad London, Covent Garden With Side Hustle’s grand marble-topped bar and dark wood, and leather-lined booths with brass rails, what was once the former Bow Street police station now feels like a slice of Manhattan real estate. This is very much in keeping with the NoMad hotel itself, a New York import, but when it comes to the drinks and food this lively bar and restaurant takes its cue from much farther south, with a cocktail menu centred around Latin American flavours and agave spirits. There’s a delightful roster of seasonal margaritas – a rhubarb expression with yuzu and Aperol is tangy and full bodied, while a bergamot and chilli creation has lovely floral notes with tingle of heat. Other classics include a zingy paloma but it’s also worth exploring the roster of house cocktails that explore the variety of agave spirits. We dived into the agave martinis, highlights of which include a dirty tequila-based variation with savoury depth from fino sherry, and a spicy martini using corn-infused mezcal and Thai bird’s-eye chilli for a cocktail with a proper poky punch. Don’t miss out on the bar snacks which include on-point guacamole, prawn croquettes, charred Padrón peppers with umami salsa macha, plus delicious tacos including baja fish, chicken tinga and pork carnitas. hilton.com A Bar With Shapes For A Name, Dalston The name of Remy Savage and Paul Lougrat’s Bauhaus-inspired bar takes pictorial form – the signage on Dalston’s Kingsland Road featuring a yellow triangle, red square and blue circle. If that sounds a little complicated then rest assured once you step into the bar – colloquially referred to as Shapes – everything takes a decidedly more minimalist turn. Inside, bare bones interiors look more akin to a science classroom than anything else, with bartenders flitting around in brightly coloured jumpsuits. The drinks list at Shapes is pleasingly pithy – just seven house cocktails and six bottled cocktails. The martini-style Habanero is an ingenious affair, using a distillate made from yellow habanero peppers that delivers all the vegetal flavours of the pepper minus the heat – funky and savoury, with a zingy Campari jelly garnish. The xscold is a surprising twist on a marg – here, eucalyptus adds a menthol edge to the herbaceous flavours of Amarás espadin mezcal and Ocho 8 tequila for a refreshing agave treat. From the bottled cocktails, a manhattan uses Buffalo Trace bourbon fat washed in olive oil, and a turmeric distillate, for a boozy whisky cocktail with dried date notes and fruity, earthy richness. clubbauhaus.com Bar Kinky, Fitzrovia Hidden underneath modern Georgian restaurant Kinkally, Bar Kinky lives up to its name with sultry interiors and a bold, left-field approach to ingredients and flavours. The small 17-seater bar occupies a sleek, vault-like space with stainless steel walls, sensual red lighting and a techno music soundtrack. The focal point is the marble central island bar around which customers sit – the vibe is somehow intimate yet hectic, with bartenders offering attentive and speedy service. Cocktails look deceptively pared back but have plenty going on behind the scenes, from inventive ingredients to playful garnishes. Bossy is a delicious margarita/gimlet hybrid, with El Rayo Plata tequila, orange, hazelnut and cacao delivering layered flavours and delicate zestiness with soft chocolate notes, plus savouriness from a Georgian seasoning in lieu of a salt rim. Chocolate also plays its part in the smoky and seductively smooth Snatch, alongside truffle, vermouth and Ojo De Dios Mezcal; while Bureau, Bar Kinky’s take on a French 75, is a fruity, fizzy crushable delight with East London Gin, sparkling wine and a frozen pomegranate ball that keeps the drink chilled and subtly changes the flavour as it melts. kinkally.co.uk Câv, Bethnal Green Câv can be found in the railway arches of Paradise Row and comes courtesy of two London bar veterans, Chris Tanner (formerly of Milroy’s and Silverleaf, and founder of Dram London), and Edwin Frost (wine bars Half Cut and Oranj), who have partnered for this bar-cum-restaurant with a rotating kitchen residency. Minimal interiors shine a spotlight on the drinks, which don’t disappoint. The menu is pleasingly pithy, with a roster of revamped classics as well as £7 house martinis, surely one of the best deals in London right now. Cocktails are pared back and poised. The Cucumber Bamboo balances refreshing vegetal flavours with the salinity of Tio Pepe sherry; similarly, the Dill Martini delivers bracing herbaceous notes with a subtle savoury nod from anchovy oil. Câv’s take on the beloved picante with golden beetroot and bird’s-eye chilli offers earthy warmth, while the Plum Manhattan has a sultry fruity and spicy rye character. Their current kitchen residency is Iberian-inspired Tasca by Josh Dallaway and Sinéad Murdoch. Head chef Josh’s menu showcases some of Spain and Portugal’s best regional dishes. These include a trio of different gildas (do try the clever jambon-beurre-inspired one); whipped Wigmore cheese, like a savoury custard, topped with celeriac honey, leeks and fried bread; and the scarlet prawn and pork cachorrinho which is best described as a Porto version of a hot dog and not to be missed. Wine comes from sommelier Sinéad and her lively list focusses heavily on sustainably produced bottles, with 80% from women-led projects. cav255.london Nine Lives, London Bridge Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of London Bridge is a cosy oasis of a bar, serving up some of London's best cocktails. Nine Lives has a buzzy atmosphere, balancing the vibe of a live DJ with the volume at just the right level so you can still chat comfortably. Their new cocktail menu is headed up by William Campbell-Rowntree; the Mello cocktail, a mixture of vodka, Cocchi Americano and honeydew was beautifully refreshing. Equally good was the Godfather sour – made with bourbon, it had a pleasantly balanced taste. To eat there's a small but enticing menu from head chef Ramon Ramos, of tacos, from baja to barbacoa, and small plates. We liked the ceviche sampler, citrussy and refreshing. This cosy, romantic spot also has a bottleshop, offering takeaway cocktails, and outdoor seating to soak up the sun. ninelivesbar.com Oriole, Covent Garden From the moment you step into Oriole you know you’re in for something special. The speakeasy-style interiors – all low lighting, plush textures and eclectic global curios – create a sense of discovery that carries through the entire evening. Head chef Gustavo Giallonardo’s menu draws on the vibrant fusion cuisines of Latin America, with playful, elegant plates that surprise and satisfy. Highlights include sea bass ceviche in bright Amarillo leche de tigre, tender lamb rump with spring greens, huacatay and black olives (reminiscent of a crisp, savoury latke), and melting pork cheek with mash and kimchi Nikkei. Finish with pineapple tartare and a cooling coconut and tarragon sorbet. Live music fills the bar while the cocktail list – arranged by continent and complete with tasting notes – brings even the most obscure ingredients to life. Try the Saraburi Punch, inspired by Thai mango sticky rice, for something silky and delicately sweet. Warm, intuitive service seals the deal – a truly memorable night out. oriolebar.com Viajante87, Notting Hill An ambitious, continent-spanning menu, moody lighting and a chilled-out yet buzzy feel set the tone for this plush, Latin American inspired basement bar in Notting Hill. Viajante means traveller in Spanish and the team’s globe-trotting approach to flavours and drinks is reflected in a lively menu that takes you from familiar classics (palomas, pisco sours, spicy margaritas) to drinks made with unexpected and lesser-known ingredients you may not have come across before. Groups can also order carafes of agave spirits or caipirinhas, and you can even work with the bar to create your own custom cocktail. Viajante87 excels in offering polished and innovative agave riffs on classic drinks. The Mole Manhattan is a tribute to Mexico’s national food, mole, using fig leaves and Criollo de Oaxaca mezcal infused with cacao and sesame along with vegetal Cynar for an evocatively earthy, smoky and nutty cocktail – it’s a must order. The Charanda Old Fashioned is another star, made with Mexican Uruapan rum, Patrón reposado and amburana seed, the latter of which adds rich vanilla and toffee notes for a sumptuous and silky drink. Elsewhere, martini fans should delve into the Martini Malcriado (savoury and herbaceous from brown butter sage mezcal) and the bracingly icy Glacier Martini. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try the Leche de Bichos made with floral raicilla spirit, anise hyssop and jocoque, a Mexican fermented yogurt. Tangy and creamy with gentle anise notes, it’s an intriguing note to round off a visit to this west London gem. viajantebar.com Nipperkin, Mayfair Situated in the depths of NIJŪ Japanese grill and sushi bar, Nipperkin is inspired by 1950s Japanese listening bars. Step through ornate curtains into an intimate, mid-century space with plush seating and marvel as expert mixologists fan perfectly cuboid ice, behind them an impressive record collection and vinyl set-up. Centred around micro-seasonality, the drinks menu from award-winning mixologist Angelos Bafas is split into four harvest seasons. Hyper-seasonal British ingredients such as wild garlic, spring flowers and blackberries expertly coalesce with the classic Japanese such as yuzu, shiso and matcha. The highball pickled cucumber was seriously refreshing, as was the Granny Smith and yuzu with Exmoor raw wildflower honey. Macerated blackberries and sloes make a pleasantly herbaceous and bitter sip with Axia extra dry mastiha and Cambridge red bitters, while there’s umami savouriness on offer from the likes of Nipperkin’s aged mushroom spirit, Cambridge truffle gin and tomato liqueur. Don’t overlook the ‘dry’ season – the sour green gooseberries with a non-alcoholic citrus spirit and English wasabi tastes like a lemon meringue pie with a whisper of warmth. Dunk crunchy bar snacks from NIJŪ of seasonal vegetables and lotus chips into creamy tofu with shiso oil and buttery grilled aubergine – and you can even peep into NIJŪ’s kitchen when paying a visit to the adorned bathrooms. nijulondon.com Equal Parts, Hackney Michael Sager has partnered with Matteo Vaccargiu to open an Italian aperitivo bar in a green tiled-fronted corner spot, a few doors down from the original Sager + Wilde wine bar. It’s an elegant yet unfussy space, with plenty of wood panelling, flickering candles and vinyl twirling on the decks. Perch at the window ledge to watch trendy passers-by or bag a spot at the bar to see the team shake and stir signature cocktails in front of an impressive line-up of amaros, aperitivo and bitters. The Flor cocktail combines fino sherry and olive oil vodka with Matteo’s elevated clarification of fresh tomato, basil, chilli and a tiny touch of garlic for a bright, fresh finish, alla liquid bruschetta to evoke the Sardinian coast. The Orange is a gluggable concoction of orange wine, Meletti amaro and pear and elderflower syrup, while the ACE makes a refreshing twist on the garibaldi combining carrot cordial, fresh orange juice, Campari and soda. A seasonal infusion makes its way into a trio of classics; on our visit a strawberry and fig leaf martini combo that brightened the negroni, sbagliato and americano. equalpartslondon.com Archive & Myth, Leicester Square A partnership between the brains behind Magic Mike Live and cocktail legend Jack Sotti might seem unusual but is exquisitely executed in this central London speakeasy-style bar. Once through the secret door beside the Magic Mike entrance of Leicester Square's Hippodrome Casino, a sultry, sophisticated allure takes over in a room enrobed in velvet, vintage furniture, memorabilia from the venue’s times gone by and a nostalgic soul soundtrack. There's a whole menu dedicated to 'minor' (small yet punchy) half serves, allowing guests to taste more. Stored in the bottle at -20°, the stony Martini Mineraux is a blend of Renais gin, limestone and dash of Chablis, with a spray of lemon oil to finish. Sazerac De Nata is a unique twist on the original, with an absinthe-injected quail's egg yolk plopped into the brandy and pastry tincture to emulate the flavours of the popular Portuguese pastry. Juicy guava and tequila-laced Daisy, perhaps the prettiest of the ‘major’ full size cocktails, comes topped with a creamy toasted coconut and black cardamom meringue-like foam. Snacks from adjacent restaurant Chop Chop include veggie dumplings with spicy chilli oil, crunchy salt and pepper prawns and pillowy char siu pork buns, freshly served from bamboo steamers. archiveandmyth.com Kwãnt, Mayfair Former American Bar head bartender Erik Lorincz is generally regarded as one of the best in the business and his feted bar is the stage for an original new drinking experience. Kwãnt previously had digs on Heddon Street before the pandemic forced its closure. It reopened in 2023, and the new incarnation, minutes from Green Park station, is a refined tropical oasis with high ceilings and tall windows, Polynesian-inspired art, leafy palms, a huge glass cabinet filled with vintage spirits and an elegant six-seater island bar around which white-jacketed bartenders work seamlessly. Kwãnt’s new cocktail omakase is exclusive to this central counter, with one seating per night taking place at 6pm, Thursday to Saturday. Nikka is its first collaborator, with five mini cocktails showcasing the Japanese brand’s spirits, paired with small bites from chef Joni Ketonen. Bold flavour pairings pepper a smoothly paced, 90-minute session (suavely stewarded by Erik himself). Nikka Coffey gin is blended with sea urchin and bonito, and matched with sake, champagne and verjus for a mineral, saline aperitif. Elsewhere, the versatility of whisky is showcased in drinks like the smoky, refreshing Tomato with Nikka Taketsuru single malt, pickle brine, tomato and Seedlip Garden; and the earthy, savoury Beetroot featuring Nikka Miyagikyo single malt, beetroot, miso and aged sake (here paired with a moreish one-bite beef tartare). The omakase ends with our favourite drink of the evening, Oolong, a take on an Irish coffee with Yoichi single malt, oolong tea mixed with wasanbon sugar and a topping of soy meringue foam – a deliciously creamy, delicate digestif. Nikka’s collaboration runs until 31 March, after which the omakase continues with new brands yet to be announced. 5coursedrinktastingmenu.square.site/ Good Measure, Tooting The team at Tooting’s Taiwanese hotspot, Daddy Bao, has converted its basement storeroom into an intimate bar inspired by the drinking dens of Taipei. A large cherry wood table takes centre stage amongst the packed shelves, Taiwanese trinkets including intricate paper fans, lamps and elegant vases add cosiness and Malika chats away over the low counter while shaking and stirring concoctions inspired by trips to Taiwan. Get there before 7pm for the mini martini hour, working your way through the likes of bamboo charcoal filtered Haku vodka, floral Roku gin and bright and earthy fig and mezcal flavours, all at £5 a pop. On the menu proper, written up on the large fridges (it’s still a fully functioning storeroom after all!), the house negroni comes laced with sake and orange bitters while cream of matcha is an innovative twist on a milk punch with a clarified mix of gin, sake, Greek yoghurt and matcha cream. Pair with satisfying snacks such as crunchy fried chicken with miso mayo, aged sirloin tataki and smacked Szechuan cucumber. daddybao.co.uk Muse at RSA House, West End Hidden away in the elegant Georgian environs of RSA House, Muse offers a welcome respite from the busy nearby Strand, with a fine line in sustainably minded cocktails. In partnership with Idyll Drinks and Company of Cooks, the bar is on a mission to spotlight British ingredients, all served in a relaxed, subtly luxe setting. Drinks, designed by Marcis Dzelzainis (Sager + Wilde), are brimming with unusual seasonal and botanical ingredients, from hawthorn and rosehip rum cocktails to a truffle vodka martini. Particularly interesting are a roster of classic cocktails made with wild distillates. Our favourites included a pisco sour made with pineapple weed liqueur – smooth and creamy with a delicate tropical cast – and a wild carrot margarita with a warming, earthy, herbaceous character. thersa.org/muse-at-rsa-house The Bloomsbury Club Bar, Bloomsbury Tucked underneath the Bloomsbury Hotel is this cosy art deco den that will transport you back to 1920s high society that was loved by the writers and artists of the time. The low-lit interior features luxurious leather armchairs, wall-to-wall bookshelves and an impressive, curved bar that serves ancient Egypt inspired cocktails that you can enjoy alongside bar bites and live music. The names, flavours and ingredients of the cocktails are inspired by hieroglyphs found carved in stone near the pyramids. Se Shen, which means lotus flower, pairs gin with the refreshing flavours of hibiscus, rose soda and adds sweetness of strawberry and raspberry. If you like a bit of a kick to your drink, Wadjet (goddess of serpents) blends tequila, vermouth and strawberry, finishing off with a rim of chilli salt for added fire. Enjoy your drinks with a selection of bar snacks that include pea and gorgonzola arancini, and beef and cheddar sliders. thebloomsburyclub.com Three Sheets, Soho Max and Noel Venning need no introduction in the cocktail world. The original Three Sheets in Dalston is a bartenders’ institution, thanks to its stripped-back interiors, late-night vibes and innovative. The brothers were pre-batching cocktails before it became a trend, setting standards high with their floral sparkling French 75 served in a champagne bottle. This iconic cocktail is still on the menu at the new spot in the heart of Soho, joined by many new stand-out contenders. An elegant version of a dirty martini has a delicate floral finish thanks to Ethiopian Koseret tea-infused Belvedere and a silkiness courtesy of an olive oil fat wash. Mezcal Sunrise is a juicy, long drink with smoky depth and floral bergamot notes from earl grey-infused mezcal, bright and citrussy freshly squeezed mandarin juice and a touch of marigold powder for subtle earthiness. Sazzaquack makes a short, smooth whisky number with notes of black treacle and a subtle spice finish thanks to homemade five spice tincture. The vibe is a little sleeker than the original, with marble tables, teal blue booths and black and white photographs of Soho's characters reminding punters that they are in the hearty of London's drinking district. threesheets-bar.com Coupette, Bethnal Green This is a super cool drinking den, where banter over the bar (made from French centimes) is encouraged and staff greet you with smiles and a taster of the slushie of the day as a welcome refresher. The showstopping champagne piña colada is a must-try – a mix of Bacardi Heritage, French-Caribbean agricole rum, pineapple and coconut sorbet, topped up with Moët & Chandon brut. The owners let their creativity loose on the rotating menu, the current iteration, “Barely Legal”, taking inspiration from East London’s street art. Each page showcases a unique commission from a local muralist to complement the cocktail in question, with a handy summary ‘compass’ of flavours on the first page, categorising the menu into sweet, bitter, boozy dry and refreshing citrus. Start with the Paper Plane Cobbler, a long, refreshing take on a negroni, the bitter Aperol and sour Tamarillo Amaro balanced by sweet sauternes and guava gel. On the sweet side, Nuts For Nuts makes an ideal night cap, a rich, sweet and fluffy liquid made from peanut butter distilled gin, nut cream and blitzed pistachios, walnuts and cashews, with oloroso sherry giving a fresh edge. coupette.co.uk Hacha, Dalston London’s original agaveria adds a splash of contemporary sunshine to Kingsland Road, with peach and mustard tiles, plenty of palms and an array of art to whisk you away to warmer climes. Perch at the bar and glide your eyes over the agave list, numbered in price order to help you choose. Each of the mezcals and tequilas comes with a complementary pairing, be that a thimble of vermouth, square of chocolate or something salty. Award-winning agave cocktails include the iconic mirror margaritas, made with a house sour mix to keep things clear, both in colour and taste, allowing the spirit to shine in a clean and bright no-nonsense serve. The honey bee margarita is another stand out, the chipotle-infused honey giving a soft, salty sweetness with a hint of heat. Current food residency is handled by Mexican street food wizards, Tigre Tacos. Crisp coated chunks of soft fish topped with zingy cabbage and pico de gallo make the baja fish tacos a must order. Portobello mushrooms, pickled carrots and crispy soy lime kale take vegetarian tacos to new heights, while tuna tostadas blanketed in crisp frilly chives make a silky, crisp, crunchy contender to mix up the textures a bit. hachabar.com Dram, Soho You’d be forgiven for walking past this low-key and unassuming Soho frontage of sanded wooden shutters on Denmark Street, but head in and this Grade II listed building starts to slowly unfold with surprises. There’s a basement bar, an open garden terrace, upstairs pool table room, private events room and a hidden drinks development “lab”. The more you uncover, the more you appreciate the creative vision of the founders – Chris Tanner, Martyn ‘Simo’ Simpson and Jack Wallis – as they’ve skilfully dissected and reassembled the concepts of what a bar is. The lab is where seasonal ingredients are fermented or “cordialised” and find their way into a short but succinct cocktail menu. Many are on tap and so available swiftly in the bar areas. Try one of the lower ABV highball serves such as the Mezcal & Coconut, or a stirred-down cocktail like Beetroot and Raspberry Wine, with a subtle earthiness from the beetroot that balances well with the sweet sharpness of the wine. Keep an eye on their events page for weekly rotating chef takeovers from September - excellently paired with specially crafted drinks. drambar.co.uk Lowcountry, Shoreditch Head down to this intimate basement bar, whether you’re awaiting your tasting menu at Counter71 upstairs or just fancy an evening of sleek, American South-style drinks and hospitality from head bartender Ryan Sheehan. Signatures include a clear, delicate tomato water and jalapeño-infused tequila cocktail. Classic creations feature the likes of the vieux carré, a complex and silky New Orleans stalwart that combines rye, cognac, sweet vermouth and Benedictine with bitters, and the London negroni, which uses spirits from Highgate’s Sacred distillery. Southern-inspired snacks soak up the booze – fried chicken clusters and tater tots are served with ranch sauce and cheesy dip for dunking. counter71.co.uk Freddles, London Fields In a cosy, glittery room below lively neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar, Papi, Freddles is an intimate spot to meet friends over innovative drinks. Bartender Thomas Auger was born in Paris to French and Vietnamese parents and has picked up techniques from some of London’s top cocktail bars (NOLA, Discount Suit Company, Milk & Honey) to develop his own eclectic style. The 12-strong menu is split into two halves, the first a ‘playground’ in which Thomas experiments with a seasonal old fashioned, milk punch, long drink, and carbonised cocktail, plus two wild cards in the mix. The old fashioned might be incorporate marmite for an umami hit or coconut and pandan syrup in a tropical twist. Or the milk punch could be a spring take on a piña colada made with a clarified concoction of carrot juice and pumpkin purée. The weekly spotlight gives space for classic cocktails with Thomas’s touch. Think elegant sparkling elderflower and vodka twinkles, a punchy rye sazerac or a hanky panky made using bitter Fernet-Branca. Bar snacks include pillowy slabs of toasted milk bread to dip into treacle butter, and ex-dairy beef tartare with deep-fried waffles. papirestaurant.com/freddles Bar Lina, Soho Beneath the iconic pastel-hued Italian deli, a Soho stalwart since 1944, you’ll find this elegant basement bar hidden in true speakeasy fashion. The small space is adorned in 60s-style furnishings complete with deep red velvet banquettes, soft chrome lighting and a speckled red marble bar that boasts a backdrop of aperitif bottles. The menu focuses on revisitations of classic Italian cocktails, with a whole section dedicated to the negroni (including the La Voglia La Pazzia fatwashed in coffee butter) and the spritz (try the Mambo Italiano that uses Campari infused with rosemary and honey topped up with citrusy clarified grapefruit). The signature figlet is a short, bittersweet number combining two fig liqueurs (one homemade and one bottled in Seven Sisters using Italian fig leaves) with a touch of vanilla syrup. barlina.co.uk The Lower Third, Soho Think of the Lower Third as a neighbourhood bar with ambition. Located on Denmark Street, it's unpretentious yet smart enough to feel special, where it’s just as easy to order a beer and a shot as it is a deftly mixed cocktail. The bar is the first of several spaces that branch out, warren-like, into the building, a mix of smaller performance areas and larger capacity venues. Keen to pay tribute to the legendary musical heritage of Denmark Street as well as the site’s former incarnation, music venue The 12 Bar Club, there’s a commitment to showcasing new and local talent, as well as more well-known bands and artists. Back in the bar, Shannon Tebay, previously of the American Bar at the Savoy and Death & Co in New York, has created a roster of twists on classic cocktails, with names taken from albums by major artists that have recorded on Denmark Street. Hits on our visit included Never Mind the Bollocks – a savoury, vegetal margarita with St George Green Chile vodka, blanco tequila, Haitian clairin rum and banana; and Band of Gypsys, a seductively smoky, negroni-style drink with mezcal, Campari, vermouth, coffee and tropical notes from passion fruit. If you’ve ever wondered what a piña colada made with scotch tastes like, then try the Schoolboys in Disgrace, where Monkey Shoulder and Talisker 10 Year Old make a surprisingly successful match with coconut cream and melon liqueur – the whisky adding a warm, boozy backbone to the drink. thelowerthird.co.uk Dover Yard, Mayfair This sleek bar is hidden away in eco chic oasis, 1 Hotel Mayfair. Natural aesthetics include low gnarled wood tables with sofas and throws in soft, muted tones. A striking bar showcases delicate racing pigeon feathers worked into a gentle wave beneath the glass. Repurposed ingredients take the limelight in the eclectic range of sophisticated cocktails. Rum-based falernum liqueur is fat-washed with left-over breakfast pastries and shaken with the bar’s own lemon sour mash, made from squeezing surplus lemon and lime husks, to create the unique Pan Brioche cocktail, reminiscent of a whisky sour and topped with a tiny croissant. Rotating seasonal classics include the vibrant Purple Carrot Garibaldi that infuses vodka with English purple carrots, while the lower-ABV Palomito is a long, bittersweet and refreshing concoction of Campari, Mancino Chinato vermouth and pink grapefruit. 1hotels.com Lyaness, Southbank Ryan Chetiyawardana’s flagship bar is lauded for its innovative mixology, and also happens to be one of the nicest places to enjoy a cocktail on the South Bank. On the ground floor of the Sea Containers hotel, it combines a light, bright palette of sky blue walls, electric blue banquettes, opulent gold accents and a sweeping emerald green marble bar (leftover from the site’s previous iteration, the award-winning Dandelyan) with glorious views of the Thames. It is a fresh, modern take on what a hotel bar should be, with yearly changing cocktail menus a product of meticulous research and freewheeling creativity. The latest, Collaboration Menu, is themed around cooperation and the coming together of ideas. If that all sounds rather serious then, rest assured, the drinks themselves are fun and full of flavour. The menu makes use of 12 housemade ingredients, from savoury and creamy KitKat-so, a koji and KitKat combo, to the sweet-sour-umami Bitterless Aperitif, a fusion of grapefruit, radicchio and plantain. The zippy Vantapink Gimlet is a tangy, tart confection of Botanist gin, ‘spite cordial’ made with dock leaves, rhubarb and fermented nettles, while the No Spoon Old Fashioned, matching Del Maguey mezcal with walnut honey and hibiscus-based ‘purple bitters’ is punchily smoky and spicy. Top billing on our visit went to the Pitstop Fix, using Port Charlotte 10 whisky, KitKat-so, linden honey, tropical chilli and lemon for a delicious next-level sour – smoky and savoury, creamy and silky. lyaness.com Stereo, Covent Garden Beneath the depths of Covent Garden’s cobblestones sits Stereo, a cocktail bar that harks back to the analogue era with its 70s-esque brown wood panelled décor, vintage cocktails, vinyl-only DJ sets and live bands. From the focal point bar surrounded by orb-shaped lamps, disco punch bowls are mixed with STEREO house vodka and Thames Distillers gin as well as 70s- and 80s-inspired cocktails using vintage vermouth and other aged spirits. Negroni and espresso martini are on draft or choose from the likes of Flying Paper’s black sesame seed-encrusted tumbler with Buffalo Trace bourbon hibiscus, amaro Montenegro and lemon, or Sunset in Oaxaca’s evening pick-me-up with Tapatio tequila blanco, mezcal, rhubarb cordial, Aperol, lemon and orange blossom. Kick off the night with à la carte American-inspired dishes of dredged fried chicken sandos and macaroni cheese with a brioche crumb – chef-restaurateur Andrew Clarke of Acme Fire Cult consulted on the menu – accompanied by the smooth house band. Then dance until the early hours with their rotating line-up of DJs. If you get peckish, late-night bar snacks and nibbles will keep you going with the likes of warm popcorn with espelette salt and STEREO hot wings. stereocoventgarden.com 3’6 at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly Fortnum’s third-floor bar has been revamped into a sleek, plush cocktail den, with inky blue walls, jewel-coloured velvet sofas and a striking 3D-printed bar complete with an undulating wooden wave installation that flows across the ceiling. Design your own cocktail, mixing and matching spirits, cocktail styles, flavours and bitters. A negroni-style drink with tequila, strawberries and rose is herbaceous, floral and delicate. Other highlights include highballs made with house-fermented sodas – try pomegranate and rosemary. fortnumandmason.com Bar Daskal, London Bridge This warm and intimate Iberian-inspired wine bar comes from Harts Group, the brains behind Barrafina and Parrillan, bringing Spanish wines, sherries and cocktails to Borough Yards in London Bridge. Creamy walls, stone chequered floors, cheerful Mallorcan fabrics and objects, and a bar covered in terracotta-hued tiles bring relaxed Med vibes to the space. Spanish fortified wines and spirits take centre stage in the pithy cocktail list – try the Eduardo, featuring dry sherry, vermut and bitters for a toasty, savoury take on a manhattan. The sherry list also shines: we tried a funky unfiltered manzanilla and a complex, nutty palo cortado. bardaskal.co.uk Eve Bar, Covent Garden Hidden away in one of central London’s busiest neighbourhoods, Eve Bar is a slinky, neon-lit drinking den with zero-waste cocktails and superior bar snacks. Sister bar to the Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling upstairs, Eve leans into its biblical moniker with illuminated stained-glass windows and ornate branches, apples and foliage snaking around the space. Its cocktail offering is intimately linked with the restaurant – ingredients that can’t be used upstairs in the kitchen are repurposed in the drinks downstairs. The latest menu, Technique, showcases this in drinks such as the Chicken Butter OF, which combines the eponymous butter (a signature of chef Adam’s) with Michter’s Sour Mash whisky and porcini – the end result is a supercharged old fashioned with opulent butterscotch notes. Another winner, Rocket Fuel, is an elevated spicy margarita, with chilli and kimchi adding tangy, funky heat. Non-alcoholic drinks also impress – the Olive Garden with Everleaf Forest, apple and olive brine is subtly saline and flavourful. Don’t miss out on the next-level bar snacks courtesy of Frog. Dainty and refined, favourites included decadent duck egg and parmesan custards served in a billowing flourish of dry ice, and springy sourdough with more of that luscious chicken butter. evebar.co.uk Swift, Borough Acclaimed London bar Swift has brought its trademark art deco style and speakeasy vibes to Borough. The two-storey space is modelled after the original Soho site (there's also one in Shoreditch), with a lighter, airy bar on the ground floor, with a no-reservation policy and an aperitivo drinks offering – perfect for post-work drinks. Downstairs, discover an intimate, glossy and dimly lit subterranean set-up. Named the Back Pocket, it’s a seated-only area with a new menu of original cocktails (although you can still find Swift classics including its impeccable Irish coffee) inspired by the history and people of the surrounding Borough area. Drinks are free of fussy garnishes yet complex and nuanced. Highlights include the Biscuit Town – malted milk scotch, cacao, demerara, chocolate and vanilla bitters – and full of comforting creamy chocolate and biscuit notes. The Golden Hinde, featuring mead, anejo tequila and brown butter, is perfectly balanced: toasty, rich and layered. The Pilgrim marries peaty, smoky scotch and spicy bourbon with juicy, fruity notes from cherry to make a fabulous fruity whisky cocktail. barswift.com Cellar at Kindred, Hammersmith The hectic roundabout at Hammersmith Broadway is an unexpected setting for cocktails, but members’ club Kindred, in the elegant Grade-II listed Bradmore House, has launched Cellar, a laidback café and bar open to the public. In relaxed and casual surroundings, cocktails come courtesy of resident mixologist Julian de Feral (Milk & Honey, Lutyens and Hawksmoor) and offer plenty of accessible, crowd-pleasing twists on classics. Try the Brambl-ita – Curado Cupreata smoked tequila with lime, spiced chocolate bitters and blackberry liqueur – for a vibrantly fruity, satisfyingly zingy twist on a margarita. Those looking for a lighter tipple should opt for the Kindred Spritz, using flavour-packed non-alcoholic aperitif Everleaf to add extra oomph alongside cherry aperitif, peach and jasmine soda and sparkling wine for a delicate, floral drink. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Cellar takes a classic espresso martini and injects it with tropical character with the addition of Aluna coconut and coffee liqueur, Cargo Cult banana spiced rum and spices for an opulent serve. wearekindred.com Sweeties, King's Cross Step into the Standard hotel’s sleek red pill lift and zoom up to the 10th floor for this luxe bar that combines retro interiors with playful, off-beat cocktails and unrivalled views of King’s Cross and St Pancras. In keeping with its home, a restored 1970s Brutalist office block, Sweeties takes its cue from the same decade, with opulent interiors including velvet sofas, mirrored tables, gold accents, wood panelling and patterned carpets. The cocktail menu features ‘feel-good ingredients and mood-enhancing mixes’ designed to be energising and uplifting. We’re not sure if we felt these effects but regardless the drinks are very good. Pick Me Up – made with eight adaptogens (ingredients that help the body deal with stress) mushrooms, vodka, rum, caramel and burnt butter drank like an elevated espresso martini, layered and earthy, with rounded depth. Roots Manuva – riesling vermouth, golden beet caramel, turmeric, ginseng, ginger, orange and mead – is vibrant, honeyed and fresh, with a vegetal edge. No Whey Jose, blanco tequila with strawberry, red rice, rose and a salted hot coconut foam, was the delightful cocktail equivalent of a Campino strawberry candy. Purple Rain – Johnny Walker whisky, amazake, salted plum, cherry bark and blossom wine – was like an extra fruity old fashioned, bursting with berry flavours, smoky and subtly savoury. standardhotels.com/sweeties Seed Library, Shoreditch Ryan Chetiyawardana’s latest venture is a slinky drinking den in the basement of the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel. Whereas his flagship bar – Lyaness at Sea Containers in Southbank – showcases a high-concept approach to mixology, Seed Library is deliberately more casual and low key. Walk-ins are encouraged and the space, with its sultry lighting, wood-panelled walls, red velvet chairs and warm palette, feels retro and slightly louche, yet very welcoming. Expect elevated riffs on cocktail classics with a touch of whimsy. The vibrant Breakfast Bellini with Patrón tequila, century beans, breakfast fruit and champagne is served with a fried egg sweet balanced on top of the glass. Asteriod Garden is a celestial spin on the English Garden, lifted with shochu and pink meteor wine, while apple blossom and tundra tea bring refreshment. A Coriander Seed Gimlet is gorgeously executed – clean and citrusy with a backbone of gentle, warming spice. Bar snacks include the likes of nocerella olives, spiced nuts and chilli rice crackers - everything you want from a nibble: savoury, salty and crunchy. Analogue lovers can find East London's Diggers Dozen spinning vinyl at the weekend. seedlibraryshoreditch.com Dona, Stoke Newington There’s something soothingly womb-like and seductive about descending into Doña, with its basement setting and sumptuous, lavishly trimmed décor of wall-to-wall rich reds and pinks scattered with prickly cacti, velvet seating and a fabulous pink-fringed bar. It’s an all-female affair – founded by friends Thea Cumming and Lucia Massey, and functions as both mezcal bar and community arts platform – there’s music and performance most nights, with an emphasis on female and queer artists, and a lively cultural programme. There's also tacos on tap, thanks to Tigre Tacos upstairs. Thea has her own mezcal brand, Dangerous Don, and founded London Mezcal Week, so it’s no surprise Doña is a treasure trove of rare and small-batch mezcals. If you’re new to mezcal then we recommend starting with the short but hard-working cocktail list, which explores the versatility of this smoky agave spirit. Take the Fiorella: made with Quiquiriqui mezcal, dry vermouth, Italicus and Empirical Ayuuk, it has the clean, crystalline feel of a martini but with a herbaceous, earthy backbone. Or try the Monika, with Dangerous Don Café, chocolate, crème de cacao, Cocchi Americano and amaretto, which tastes like a refined, elevated espresso martini, replete with coffee, chocolate and nutty notes. Doña also makes a cracking house margarita – we asked for a spicy version and the end result was superb, poky and zesty with a savoury, briny twang at the end. bardonalondon.com Connaught Bar, Mayfair Low-lit, slinky, plush luxury is the name of the game at this acclaimed hotel bar, whose tastefully decadent surrounds – metallic accents, mirrors, a mutedly rich palate and plenty of seating to sink into – is matched by impeccable service and even more impressive cocktails. If you only order one drink let it be the martini – made at a trolley by your table with theatrical, expert aplomb (watching them pour the martini in a high, silvery stream into your glass is a sight to behold). Tanqueray No Ten is the recommended serve, along with a blend of vermouths and your choice of homemade bitters (ranging from tonka bean and lavender to cardamom, on our visit). The end result is spot on, silky textured and very generous in size – don’t drink one on an empty stomach. Their latest menu, Formae, also has much to explore, drawing inspiration from the shapes and forms of the surrounding bar. We tried the Voronoi – a fruitier, lighter take on a margarita with Tapatio tequila, Michoacan mezcal, vetiver liqueur, lime and timur sherbet, vermouth, grapefruit hops bitters and agave water. Thought has gone into the zero-alcohol offering, too – we enjoyed the sprightly Pietra with ginseng and bergamot kombucha, osmanthus honey syrup and sauvignon blanc juice. Complimentary buttery olives and crackers are continuously refilled by meticulously attentive staff, and winning canapés include ultra-light and crispy tempura made with seasonal veg, crispy salmon sashimi with chipotle mayo and velvety guacamole. the-connaught.co.uk/connaught-bar Three Sheets, Dalston A stripped-back cocktail bar with a succinct list of drinks, Three Sheets has raked in the plaudits over the years but still retains a buzzy neighbourhood hang-out vibe. It was the first venture from the Venning brothers, originally from Manchester, who have worked in leading cocktail bars for years, most notably Max’s experience with Tony Conigliaro’s Drinks Factory and 69 Colebrooke Row and Noel’s time in Manchester at tequila bar Crazy Pedro’s. More recently, they've also helped found Crouch End's Little Mercies (see below) and Highbury wine bar Top Cuvée – as well as its roaringly successful shop, Shop Cuvée. Max and Noel aren’t big on the showy side of cocktail making – behind the bar is a simple shelf of bottles containing only what the mixologists need for the short cocktail list. This no-frills approach allows the brothers’ northern charm to shine through; they chat away and recommend local haunts while shaking up drinks as though hosting you in their own home. The pithy drinks list changes seasonally, but usually features their famous fizzy pre-bottled French 75, made with gin, verjus, clarified lemon juice, moscato and orange flower. Poured straight into your glass like champagne, it’s dangerously easy to drink (you can buy it buy the glass, or, even better, by the bottle).threesheets-bar.com SOMA, Soho This understated bar occupies subterranean premises on Soho’s Denman Street, next door to sister restaurant Kricket. Inside, expect pared-back yet polished cocktails served in low-lit, slinkily minimalist surrounds – think a stainless steel bar, indigo walls and walnut furnishings. SOMA – like Kricket – takes inspiration from the Indian subcontinent, serving snappily executed riffs on classic cocktails that showcase clever spicing and an eclectic approach to ingredients. Start with the mooli, a crystalline affair of vodka with curry leaf-infused vermouth served ice-cold from the freezer and garnished with a sliver of pickled mooli. Savoury and peppery, delicate and clean, it may be a Marmite drink for some, but fans of a gibson martini should make a beeline for it. The chaat – mezcal, tequila, chaat masala, kumquat and a moreish gooseberry salt – is winningly clean, zesty and saline, while the oak is a silky, nutty, opulent marriage of cardamom, aged gin, amaro, vermouth and amontillado sherry. It's the perfect nightcap to end the evening. somasoho.com Little Mercies, Crouch End Modern, easy-drinking cocktails are the focus at Alan Sherwood’s (Peg + Patriot, Scout) laidback establishment. Inside, it's calm and composed – expect a minimalist interior of exposed brick, a concrete bar, pendant lamps and inky blue walls. The cocktails here are elegant, with plenty of homemade ingredients – most recently, a negroni made with the bar's own passionfruit vermouth. There's also a fun yet innovative approach to classic drinks, think bellinis made with lacto-fermented peach, kiwi gimlets and 'Snickers' old fashioneds. littlemercies.co.uk Nightjar, Shoreditch The busy City Road in Shoreditch seems an unlikely setting for a stylish, subterranean speakeasy bar but that’s exactly where you’ll find Nightjar. On the outside, a tall wooden door sandwiched between two cafés is the only evidence of its existence, but go inside and discover a plush space replete with candlelit tables, leather banquette seating and flatteringly dim lighting. The bar’s characteristically detailed drinks menu riffs on old cocktail recipes (ranging from the pre-prohibition to post-war periods) but adds its own twist. Try the Honeymoon – a short, fresh yet punchy blend of Glenfiddich 21-year-old whisky, Nightjar’s ‘forbidden fruit liqueur’ (a mix of citrussy pomelo, sherry and dry vermouth), Cynar, mead, lemon and geranium leaf. It's a complex drink, dry and delicately smoky, with subtle honey and aniseed notes. Drink nerds should investigate the bar’s vintage spirits menu, which is full of rare, aged spirits dating from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. barnightjar.com Photography: Laura Aziz (Muse at RSA House)